From Attah Ede, Makurdi
School activities were on Tuesday 23rd September, 2025 paralyzed in Akaajime community, Mbakpegh, Ipav area of Gboko, Gboko local government area of Benue State as one in a family of six, was found dead and five in a state of unconsciousness.
The family comprises three girls, two boys and their mother.
The development has thrown the entire community into a state of confusion as one of the victims was confirmed dead before the rest five were evacuated to a nearby private Hospital, at Akaajime for immediate medical attention.
According to an eyewitness, a member of the family, who identified herself as Mohivinze Terkura, she miraculously escaped the tragedy by spending the night in her aunt’s house due to heavy rain.
Terkura explained that she had returned to their residence at about 10am on Wednesday, only to discover that her mother and siblings were yet to open the door of their house as it was locked from inside which to her, was very strange and unusual.
She stated further that, when several attempts to open the door failed, she decided to forced the door open only to find her mother and the remaining siblings unconscious.
“Upon seeing them in that condition, I immediately raised the alarm to draw the attention of our neighbors who came and assisted me to convey them to the nearest hospital. However, before we could get to the hospital, my younger brother of four years, Sunday Surnen died.
“I can’t actually ascertained what led to the incidence. However, when we forced the door opened, I noticed unusual smell of chemical like cooking gas in the room. But we don’t have gas cooker in the entire house, neither do we used insecticide in our house,other than mosquito nets that we constantly use”, Terkura stated.
She gave name of the affected victims as; Aondohemba Joseph (11years), Mrs Mde Joseph (mother), Miss Terkuma Kumawues (12yrs), Miss Chivirter Avalumun (10 yrs), Master Teryange Avalumun (7yrs).
Narrating the Incident, one of the victims Aondohemba, who was revived by the doctor at the hospital, told journalists on his hospital bed that, he wake up this morning as usual to prepare for school activities but couldn’t move from the bed.
“I called our mother but she could not answered me only for me to discovered that all of us in the room were unconscious, and were helpless till my sister return this morning at about 10am.
“Normally, our mother wakes up by 5am every school days to prepare food for us to be taken to school. But today, she mistakenly wake up to cook by 2am.
“And when she discover that, it was still midnight, then she came back to joined us in the room hoping to continue with the cooking at the usual hours of 5am, only for the devil to strike us leaving all of us unconscious.
“It is regrettable that my brother died and I pray that nothing happens to the rest of us again”, Joseph said
The Doctor in charge of the hospital who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said he is yet to ascertain the circumstances rounding situation, stressing that his major concern was to revive and stabilise the victims.
When contacted the executive chairman of Gboko local government area, Barr. Torseer Yina, said he has not receive report about the incidence but has read it on social media.
“I have not receive formal information about the incidence but I saw it on social media and that is what I know about it”, the Chairman stated.
Efforts to get reaction from the State Police Command, was unsuccessful as the command police public relations officer PPRO DSP Udeme Edet did not respond to text or calls put across to her cell phone.
