Some House of Representatives members on Thursday said the member representing Obi Federal Constituency in Benue State, Samson Okwu, be screened and quarantined for possible infection from a “strange disease” ravaging Oye-Obi area of the state.

Okwu had moved a motion on the need for the Federal Government to investigate the looming outbreak of a deadly disease in the area, which had reportedly killed 36 people.

But after the lawmaker moved the motion, James Faleke (APC, Lagos) moved a point of order on personal explanation.

He informed the House that there was need to quarantine Okwu, pending the determination of the cause and nature of the disease to prevent its spread.

Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu supported the call for the lawmaker to quarantined, but Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase, who presided over plenary, cautioned his colleagues against hasty decision on the matter.

The House urged the Federal Government to investigate the cause of the disease.

The lawmakers noted that unless urgent steps were taken, the disease might spread to other parts of the country.

Okwu had informed the House about the outbreak of an epidemic at Oye-Obi, Orihi Ward in Obi Local Government Area.

The lawmaker said it had claimed several lives and left many others in coma in hospitals without the hope of survival.

He said the affected community, with an estimated population of over 6,000 people, shares a boundary with Ekpong Ainu, Ogboma Ainu and Ogege Idelle in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

Okwu warned of an imminent spread of the disease beyond the affected areas.

He said Health Officer and Chairman of Obi Local Government reported the outbreak of the disease on January 29, 2020.

The lawmaker added that the infected contacted the disease after drinking water from River Oyongwo in the area.

According to him, despite the quick response by Governor Samuel Ortom, who sent the Commissioner for Health to assess the situation, the death toll has been on the rise.

Okwu said the disease had not been analysed, adding that sufficient measures had not been put in place to arrest the situation.

The lawmaker stressed that the life of every Nigerian should be treated as being sacrosanct.

He said the primary purpose of every government is to provide welfare, good health and security of the lives and property of the citizenry, in line with international policy of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global humanitarian protocols.

Okwu decried inadequate medical facilities and personnel in the two local government areas to take care of the looming health challenge of the residents.