The Struggles Beyond Displacement: Accounts from Benue Female IDPs

For 27-year-old Aondona Dooshima, giving birth had always been a familiar process, and she anticipated that her fifth pregnancy would go smoothly.

Unfortunately, Dooshima, a mother of five who had been displaced, faced an unexpected tragedy when her baby died due to complications on February 26, 2026.

Her husband, Shienge Aondona, 34, shared with our correspondent that they were forced to leave their home in Tse Nongu Tswarev, located in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, and had been residing in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp at Agagbe for over four years.

He explained that they frequently returned home, but had to retreat back to the camp due to threats from armed attackers who had seized their ancestral land.

"After the last time we were forced out by armed invaders, we sought refuge in the host community. My wife was pregnant at that time. The resulting hardships due to food scarcity severely impacted her health. During her pregnancy, she often fell ill," he recounted.

"We were unable to afford proper medical care after our initial hospital visit; even acquiring food was a challenge. We sought local assistance, but her health continued to worsen until she passed away two weeks ago. My wife died from complications related to her pregnancy," he stated solemnly.

Aondona expressed deep concern for the five children—three boys and twin girls—left behind by his late wife, noting that they had not yet been able to bury her due to a lack of funds.

He also emphasized that since fleeing their home in 2022, his family had been living in the Agagbe camp, alongside other displaced families struggling to rebuild their lives. When severe abdominal pains struck his wife on February 26, help was unattainable, and money was nonexistent.

"My wife died while I felt utterly helpless," he lamented.

Tragically, less than 72 hours after Dooshima's demise, another pregnant IDP at Agabge camp, Sumali Blessing, 28, also succumbed to complications attributed to inadequate medical care and poverty.

According to her husband, Sumali Aondowase, Blessing left behind three boys.

In an interview with our correspondent, Aondowase expressed his profound regret over his wife's death, blaming it on his financial struggles.

"Had I been able to afford medical care, perhaps my wife would still be alive. She gave birth to a baby girl, who died shortly after, and within hours, she too succumbed," he recounted with sorrow.

"We have been in the Agabge IDP camp since 2022, following the invasion of our community by armed herders," he added.

Similarly, displaced women across various regions in Benue State face limited access to healthcare, compounded by poverty and a lack of awareness.

The correspondent recalled a similar incident over a year ago involving a 30-year-old IDP named Kongo Mzamber, who lost her triplets due to insufficient maternal care.

Mzamber, originally from Tse Gbuku in the Sengev Council ward of Gwer West Local Government Area, had been displaced by armed attackers who caused widespread destruction and loss of life in her village.

Residents in the Agabge camp corroborated the accounts of the deceased women's husbands, affirming that Dooshima passed away on February 26, 2026, while Blessing died on March 1, 2026.

One resident, who requested to remain anonymous, Dominic, reported that when Dooshima experienced intense abdominal pain, she could not receive immediate medical assistance due to financial constraints. Her husband eventually rushed her to a clinic in Agabge when her condition deteriorated, but she died shortly after arriving.

Another resident indicated that while the camp community mourned Dooshima's death, Blessing, a native of Tse Ameen in the Mbapa Council ward of Gwer Local Government Area, also died shortly after giving birth.

The resident attributed Blessing's death to financial difficulties preventing her husband from ensuring proper nutrition and timely medical attention.

"She was later taken to the primary healthcare center in Abani on Sunday, but it was too late. She died soon after childbirth, and her body was placed in the Agabge morgue," the resident shared, noting that both families had been in the Agabge camp since 2022, appealing to the state government, philanthropists, and NGOs for urgent healthcare interventions for displaced individuals.

In response to inquiries, Terna Ager, the information officer for the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), clarified that the deceased women were not residents of the camp but lived within the host community in Agabge.

Maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high in Benue – Stakeholders

Reports indicate that Benue State ranked fifth in fatalities due to insecurity, with approximately 1,098 deaths noted in a June 2025 report by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited. Maternal mortality rates in the state remain a critical issue, with estimates reaching 1,189 per 100,000 births.

Dr. Fanan Abigail Gire, the Benue State coordinator of the Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with/affected by HIV (NINERELA+), stated that maternal and child health within Benue IDP camps continues to be a serious concern, with statistics showing roughly 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 53 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births.

Gire attributed key challenges to limited healthcare access, inadequate infrastructure, untrained birth attendants, and malnutrition among vulnerable populations, noting that many women are not psychologically prepared for pregnancy and childbirth, leaving them susceptible to exploitation.

"The NINERELA+ Benue chapter, in 2022, launched a campaign for Universal Access to Maternal and Child Health targeting Religious Women Leaders in Benue. It has been successful, yielding numerous stories of improved access. We have religious leaders engaging within their communities. For instance, Hajiya Hawa, a leader from the Jamatu Nasil Islam, assisted a woman from prenatal care to the delivery of triplets at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi. Additionally, many faith-based organizations have intervened by donating food and non-food items at various IDP camps," she added.

In a recent statement, Akawe Shadrach, the acting director of Planning Research and Statistics (DPRS) at the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, disclosed that under-five mortality rates are as high as 52.5%, with 37.3% for infants and 21.5% maternal mortality.

He noted that Benue is among the states with the highest mortality statistics in the country and emphasized persistent concerns regarding health indicators, as depicted in the 2024 State Health Profile and the 2025 Annual Operational Plan (AOP).

"For maternal mortality, we record about 21.5%, which translates to 1,189 women per 100,000 dying from pregnancy-related causes. The infant mortality rate for Benue is about 37.3%, ranking us ninth among the 36 states in the country. Similarly, the under-five mortality rate of 52.2% places us ninth as well," he informed journalists during a three-day training for planning units held in Otukpo.

Experts advocate for maternal health measures

Medical professionals believe that the tragedies faced by the women could have been avoided with proper information and access to healthcare.

Ukeh George, a psychosocial therapist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Makurdi, expressed condolences to the bereaved families. Although he does not officially speak for the hospital, he is aware of two programs aimed at assisting the indigent population.

George mentioned that barriers to healthcare for IDPs are exacerbated by the camps being located far from hospitals equipped to handle complex emergencies, making it harder for low-income families to access necessary medical services.

The Head of Clinical Services at FMC in Makurdi, Dr. Uche Augustine, confirmed that the hospital runs two humanitarian programs. He remarked that no expectant mother should face death from pregnancy complications if timely medical attention and information are accessible.

He outlined the initiatives developed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, including Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics Newborn Care (CEmONC) specifically designed for such incidents.

Dr. Augustine added that NEMSAS addresses accident and emergency situations, including free ambulance services, emphasizing that state governments should align with national safety measures.

He reassured that location should not hinder patients, including IDPs, from accessing the programs or emergency medical services, as long as their indigence is established.

This report was supported by Humangle's Strengthening Community Journalism and Human Rights Advocacy in Northern Nigeria (SCOJA) fellowship.