Infant Dies in Benue IDP Camp Two Weeks After Mother’s Death

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A two-week-old baby has died after falling ill at the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Benue State, barely two weeks after his mother died following childbirth.

The infant died at Bishop Murray Hospital, Makurdi, on Monday, September 28, 2026, where he and his twin brother had been admitted for treatment.

The mother, 23-year-old Mrs Seember Rochas, died on September 9 shortly after giving birth to twin boys at the IDP camp.

Her husband, Mr Mende Rochas, 27, told journalists that his wife delivered the twins successfully but died about an hour later.

Peoples Daily gathered that Rochas gave birth at the camp without medical assistance after going into labour at about 7 p.m., when personnel at the makeshift health facility had reportedly closed for the day.

Her husband said pregnant women at the camp usually received antenatal services at the health post, but no health worker was available when his wife went into labour.

Following her death, the newborn twins remained at the camp, where elderly women assisted in caring for them.

Rochas said camp officials initially provided baby food for the twins, but the supplies were later exhausted.

The babies subsequently fell ill and were taken to Bishop Murray Hospital for treatment, where one of them died on Monday.

Confirming the development, the Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Mr Tema Ager, said the mother had stopped attending antenatal care provided by Terre des Hommes before she went into labour.

Ager said the interruption in antenatal care may have contributed to complications surrounding her death.

He also confirmed that the twins became ill and were admitted to Bishop Murray Hospital, where one of them died on September 28.

The deaths have highlighted concerns over access to maternal and newborn healthcare for displaced families living in camps across Benue State.