A Tiv pregnant woman lost her baby after carrying 51 weeks pregnancy in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Agyaragu, Lafia Nasarawa state Capital.
The 35-year-old, Agnes Julius lost her baby when she started bleeding after carrying 12 months pregnancy. She was rushed to hospital unconscious with a dead baby in her womb unknown to her, but the stillborn child was successfully removed lifeless through surgery.
Narrating her ordeal to us when visited the camp, she said it was the hardships and trauma she underwent in the camp and lack of funds that was responsible for the death of her baby.
“My problem is that the time I was living together with my husband here, I was pregnant and it was time for me give birth, but I couldn’t and I don’t know what was the problem. But when it was exactly 12 months, I began to experience blood coming out of me regularly. Then I told him to carry me to the hospital and he took me there. The Doctor said the child died. I don’t know what happened because I was unconscious when they took me, and I can only hear the story of how I was revived.
“Now, they said I should pay them their money and I don’t have the money. All the money we came with has finished. Though, they have paid N40,000 as part payment and to balance N60,000, because the total bill for the operation carried on me was N100,000. Now we don’t have, but we pleaded with the hospital to allow us to pay gradually.” Agnes explained.
When asked if the baby was lost as a result of the hardship she faced? Mrs Agnes further said ” yes! It was because there was no money which made things remain this way. I had no option my child died inside my stomach for long but because I do not have money that was why I couldn’t do anything. At first, I was there (hospital) but they chased me out, we went out and to see if we could find someone to borrow our money, no way! We asked for credit from people but nobody was able to give us.
“In fact, we are in serious hardship and challenge, and as you can see there is nothing here for us to eat or drink. We are here because we have no option, but we beg to feed most times.”
Meanwhile, a midwife nurse with the Dalhatu Specialist Hospital Mr M. Alizi confirmed that it is possible for her to experience overdone pregnancy, especially if the person did not privilege to go for antenatal care, or not feeding well. “she might probably run short of blood to the sustained baby.” He said.
Similarly, some IDPs in the camp also expressed their plights thus:
“I am Mr Julius Shawusu, a resident of Awe LGA. the crisis made me and my family relocate to Agyaragu since January this year.
“Of a truth, when the crisis happened I was able to come with few food items, but as I am here now I already finished the food. Even though some of our people have returned, but with the recent happening they all deserted again.
“Again, what delayed me from going back was the condition of my wife. She was pregnant and it was having a complication which needs my attention. So I took her to Boni hospital in Agyaragu which the baby died inside her stomach before then I had that our people have been displaced again.
“I know it was because of the hardship at the camp that resulted in this complication. Thank God she is still alive. But it is a sad thing you know, for a mother, after 12 months of pregnancy and then lost it.
“In this last attacks, my brother was also killed in a farm at Awe LGA. The are many other cases like that where Fulani herdsmen attacking people in farms, they don’t want you to farm and that was the same thing that made us ran to this place for safety. When I heard of this recent one again, I became disturbed and troubled if we can ever go back home again. But there is nothing God cannot do and I know one day we shall go back home.
“So, we are pleading the government to do something fast to stop the killings of our brothers in the bush. Though, everybody left all their villages.” He pleaded.
Also, Mr Vincent Oaja, from Giza in Gyabo, Madaki ward comments: ” I was here today because Fulani people chased us out our house. We were living together peacefully before, but because of the problem in Benue the Fulani came in and destroyed our houses and killed our people. We narrowly escaped to this place since January this year.
“In our side Gyabo, they destroyed about 100 houses and killed 5 people. When you come to Adoo, it reaches about 200 houses destroyed, and in Agbo, is about 250 houses or so burnt.
“In fact, we are suffering here; not enough food, no water, no money and no toilet. I used to help people offload yams in the market to feed my seven children including my late brother’s wife who was also killed. We are begging the government to come to our aids.
“We are not happy staying here and that is why we begging the government to stop the carnage on our people. If you go to Giza now, no tribe is living there except Gwadara and Fulani people who are Muslim mostly. we want to go back to cultivate our farms. It was from there I do pay my children school fees, feed on.
“My name is Fidelia Aduma, I am from Giza, when we heard the information that Fulani have entered Benue state, we wanted to leave, but they said we should stay they are not after us, so we relaxed thinking nothing will happen. All of a sudden they surfaced on us, shooting anyhow pa pa pa… And four of our brothers were killed. And we ran to Atabla where we also heard that the town too was under attacked and we were stranded in the bush. Thank God for one Fulani man that rescue us by showing us a way to escape. After some time, we went home only to discovered all our houses burnt. Now we don’t have anything with us again .” Fidelia said
Mrs.Laraba Luka, is the Head Mistress, Angwan Yakubu Science Pilot School. Agyaragu who lamented living together with IDPs in the same camp, appealing to the state government to help the situation by providing accommodation to them to reduce the stress.
“We are not comfortable here having them together with academy activities is difficult to cope. Sometimes we used to teach our pupils outside under the tree because there was no space. At times, I used my personal money to buy mats for them to use. The situation is bad. Although, I have reported the case to Education Secretary and he said until he heard from the state government. So, we have to wait.” She added.
and then