One dies, 5 other family members found lying unconscious in Benue community

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

One person has been reportedly dead, five other family members found lying unconscious at Akaajime  community, Mbakpegh, Ipav area of Gboko, Gboko local government area of Benue State.

The Nations News reports that the affected family of six, including three girls, two boys  and their mother, were found lying unconscious at their private residence.

The development thrown the entire community into a state of confusion after one of the victims was confirmed dead before the remaining ones could be evacuated to a nearby private Hospital, at Akaajime for  immediate medical attention and survival. 

According to an eyewitness who is 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.

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, after several attempts to open the door failed, she then decided to forced the door opened,  only for her to found 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 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 our house,other than mosquito nets that we use 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 moved 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 wake up 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 5:00am,  only for the devil to struck us leaving all of us unconscious.

“It is regretting 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, hence 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 formal 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 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.