Five members of a family in Benue State are currently battling for survival after they were found unconscious Tuesday morning.
NATIONAL POST learnt that one of the victims already passed on before they were rushed to hospital.
They were all found in an unconscious state right inside their room when the door was forced open.
The incident, which occurred in Akaajime community, Mbakpegh, Ipav, in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, has thrown residents into panic.
A member of the family, Miss Mohivinze Terkura, who escaped the tragedy, said she returned in the morning because she was trapped by rain and was surprised to discover that her mother and siblings were still in the room with the door locked from inside, which was very unusual.
She further explained that after several attempts for them to open the door failed, she then forced the door open only to discover her mother and others unconscious.
"I raised an alarm for the attention of neighbors who helped me convey the victims to the nearest hospital.
"But before the victims were taken to hospital, my younger brother of four years, master Sunday Surnen was confirmed dead," she said.
Miss Terkura said she can't actually tell what led to the incident but she noticed an unusually harsh smell of chemical in the room.
According to her they don't have a gas cooker in the room nor do they use insecticide as they were constantly using mosquito nets.
Confirming the story, one of the victims, Aondohemba Joseph (11years) who was lucky to be revived by the doctor said he woke up this morning as usual to prepare for school activities and couldn't move himself from the bed.
"I called our mother but she couldn't answer and I discovered that the rest in the room were unconscious, and were helpless until the intervention of my sister, Movihinze, who returned late around 10am," he said.
He explained further that their mother mistakenly woke up to cook for them by 2am only for her to discover that it was still midnight and she went back to join them in the room hoping to continue with the cooking at the usual hours of 5am only for the devil to strike, leaving all of them unconscious.
Names of the other victims were given as Mrs Mde Joseph (mother), Miss Terkuma Kumawues 12yrs, Miss Chivirter Avalumun, 10, and Master Teryange Avalumun, 7yrs.
As of the time of filing this report, no one has ascertained the cause of the incident, or those behind it.
