A mother and her four children were on Wednesday discovered unconscious in their home at Akaajime community, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving one child dead.
The victims were rushed to a private hospital in Gboko by neighbours after being found in a coma. Sadly, a four-year-old boy was confirmed dead before medical help could be administered.
A family member, Mohivinze Terkura, who narrowly escaped the tragedy, said she had spent the night at her aunt’s house due to heavy rainfall.
Upon returning home around 10 a.m., she found the door locked from inside. After forcing it open, she discovered her mother and siblings unconscious.
“I immediately raised an alarm, and neighbours helped me rush them to the hospital. Unfortunately, my younger brother had already died,” she told journalists.
Terkura added that she noticed a chemical-like odour inside the house, though the family neither owned a gas cooker nor used insecticides.
One of the children, who later regained consciousness, recounted that he had tried to get up for school but could not move. “I called our mother, but she didn’t answer. Soon, all of us became unconscious until my sister returned in the morning,” he said.
Dr. Joshua Atime of Vawar Hospital, Gboko, confirmed receiving the patients before transferring them to the General Hospital after stabilising their condition.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area, Torseer Yina, said he was yet to receive an official report on the incident, noting that he only learnt of it through social media.