From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The community of Akaajime, Mbakpegh, Ipav in Gboko local government area of Benue State was thrown into confusion on Tuesday 23rd September, 2025 as a family of six, including three girls, two boys and their mother, were found unconscious, with one dead in their private residence.
An eyewitness, also a member of the family, who identified herself as Mohivinze Terkura, said that she miraculously escaped the tragedy after spending the night in her aunt’s house due to heavy rain.
Mohivinze 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, after several attempts to open the door failed, she then decided to force the door open, only for her to find her mother and the remaining siblings unconscious.
“Upon seeing them in that condition, I immediately raised alarm, drawing the attention of our neighbors who came and assisted me to convey them to a nearest hospital. However, before we could get to the hospital, my younger brother of four years, Sunday Surnen died”.
“I can’t actually ascertain what led to the incident. However, when we forced the door open, 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 use insecticide our house, other than mosquito nets that we use constantly”, Terkura stated.
She gave names of the affected victims as Aondohemba Joseph (11years), Mrs Mde Joseph (mother), Miss Terkuma Kumawuese (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 woke 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 answer me. Only for me to discover that all of us in the room were unconscious, and were helpless till my sister returned this morning at about 10am.
“Normally, our mother wakes up 5am every school days to prepare food for us to take to school. But today, she mistakenly woke up to cook by 2am. And when she discovered that, it was still midnight, then she came back to join us in the room hoping to continue with the cooking at the usual hours of 5am, only for the devil to strike 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.
When contacted the executive chairman of Gboko local government area, Barr. Torseer Yina, said he has not receive any formal report about the incidence but has read it on social media.
“I have not received any formal information about the incident but I saw it on social media and that is where 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 could not respond to text or calls put across to her cell phone.
Dr. Joshua Atime of Vawar hospital, Akaajime Gboko said, “It’s true they brought some patients to my hospital and I only stabilized them and transferred them to General Hospital, Gboko. One died at home” .
