The Onigbesi of Igbesi Land in Kwara State, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, has died days after he was rescued from kidnappers.

The monarch passed away in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital, according to his son, Prince Olasunkanmi, who said his father had been receiving treatment following a brief illness.

“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” Olasunkanmi said.

Oba Iwedunmoye was abducted on August 22 when armed men invaded Igbesi community in Isin Local Government Area.

He regained his freedom five days later after security forces launched an operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro area, where three kidnapped victims were found.

The rescue followed a report received at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante member, who alerted authorities after one of his colleagues was shot while operating in the bush.

A combined team of police officers, soldiers and vigilantes was subsequently deployed to the area.

Police said the suspected kidnappers engaged the team in a gun battle after spotting the advancing operatives. One alleged kidnapper was killed during the exchange, while others escaped into the surrounding area.

The security team continued the search and eventually located the three victims, who were evacuated for medical treatment.

News of the monarch’s death was announced by Bisi Fakayode, National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, who mourned the traditional ruler and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The circumstances surrounding the monarch’s illness and death have not been publicly disclosed beyond his family’s account that he fell ill after his release.

Ebola Crisis Deepens in DR Congo as Cases Cross 7,000

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached more than 7,000 recorded cases, with nearly 3,400 people losing their lives in what authorities describe as the country’s worst epidemic of the disease.

Official figures show that 7,022 cases have been identified since the outbreak was detected in May. Of those affected, 3,398 have died, while 1,671 people have recovered.

The outbreak has also continued to expand geographically, with South-Ubangi becoming the seventh province where the virus has been detected. The province shares borders with both the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo.

Health authorities are facing particular difficulties in Ituri, where most of the cases have been recorded. The province has schools where Ebola infections have been detected, raising concerns about further transmission as students return to classrooms.

Schools in affected areas have introduced additional precautions, including compulsory handwashing, limiting classroom numbers and discouraging physical contact among pupils.

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The response is being complicated by the wider conditions in eastern and northern parts of the country. Some affected communities are located in remote areas with limited healthcare facilities, while long-running armed conflicts have made access and government intervention more difficult.

Residents have expressed growing concern, particularly over the possibility of children carrying the virus between their homes and schools.

The current outbreak was first officially identified in northeastern Ituri in mid-May, although health authorities believe the virus may have been circulating for weeks before it was detected.

The strain responsible is Bundibugyo ebolavirus. There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically available for the strain, although researchers are testing potential vaccines and therapies.

Ebola spreads primarily through contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause severe illness, including bleeding, organ failure and death.

The latest crisis is part of the DRC’s long history with Ebola, with the country experiencing 17 outbreaks since the virus was first identified there.

With infections continuing to appear in new areas, authorities face the challenge of containing transmission while providing treatment and protection in communities already struggling with insecurity and limited health infrastructure.

Ebola Crisis Deepens in DR Congo as Cases Cross 7,000

Ahead of Dry Season Surge, NCDC Urges Proactive Measures Against Lassa Fever

As the dry season approaches, Nigeria’s public health authorities are sounding an urgent alarm over Lassa fever, calling on the nation to preempt a seasonal wave that historically claims dozens of lives between November and April.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris stressed that the country cannot afford to wait until hospitals are inundated. While the acute viral illness remains an ongoing threat, Idris pointed out that the current pre-peak window offers an invaluable opportunity to fix recurring weak links in containment and clinical management.

The impetus for the proactive campaign stems from clear post-outbreak data pointing to preventable bottlenecks. Many patients succumb to the virus because early symptoms mirror common tropical ailments, leading to days of unguided home remedies or repeated visits to local chemist shops before presenting at designated treatment centers.

The review also pointed to gaps in infection control that left medical personnel vulnerable to nosocomial exposure during peak admission cycles, compounded by domestic environments that invite multimammate rodents into direct contact with uncovered food.

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Under the newly deployed Accelerated Readiness Plan, the NCDC is mobilizing an inter-agency response that crosses traditional departmental lines. By coupling epidemiological tracking with agricultural and environmental interventions, authorities aim to concentrate resources where transmission risks run highest.

The plan places heavy emphasis on tightening laboratory networks to eliminate diagnostic delays, while training healthcare staff to isolate and report suspected infections before viral loads peak.

Health officials underscored that containment begins in individual households and neighborhoods. Families were cautioned against leaving staples like beans, garri, and grains accessible to rodents, with directives to avoid direct contact with rat fluids and maintain rigorous waste management around dwellings.

With late presentation remaining the single largest driver of Lassa fever fatalities, the agency urged individuals with unyielding fever to abandon self-medication and seek professional diagnostics immediately, reminding health workers on the frontlines that early clinical suspicion is the ultimate barrier against hospital outbreaks.

Ahead of Dry Season Surge, NCDC Urges Proactive Measures Against Lassa Fever