Gboko, Benue State — A mother and her four children were discovered unconscious in their home at Akaajime community, Gboko Local Government Area, on Wednesday, with one child confirmed dead.
The victims were found locked inside their home before neighbours rushed them to a private hospital in Gboko. A four-year-old boy was pronounced dead before medical help arrived.
A surviving family member, Mohivinze Terkura, told journalists that she had escaped the tragedy by spending the night at her aunt’s house due to heavy rain. She returned home around 10 a.m. to find the door locked from the inside and, after forcing it open, discovered her mother and siblings unconscious.
“I immediately raised an alarm, and neighbours helped convey them to the hospital. Sadly, my younger brother did not survive,” she said. Terkura added that she noticed a strange chemical-like smell in the room, despite the family not using a gas cooker or insecticides, aside from mosquito nets.
One of the surviving children told journalists that he had tried to get up for school but found himself unable to move and called for his mother, who was also unresponsive.
Dr. Joshua Atime of Vawar Hospital confirmed that the patients were initially treated at his facility before being transferred to General Hospital, Gboko, for further care.
Gboko Local Government Chairman, Torseer Yina, said he had not yet received a formal report of the incident and only learned about it through social media.
