A family in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State has been struck by a devastating series of deaths that has claimed the lives of a father and all his male children. Benjamin Utsenda Aber, a native of Tse Abari, Sherev, Ngenev, had suffered from a prolonged illness that strained the family’s resources. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away sometime last year.
His younger brother, Eric Nater Utsenda Aber, was overcome by the news of Benjamin’s death and subsequently took his own life. Both brothers were laid to rest around the same period. In July 2026, their father, Mr. Utsenda Aber, a retired civil servant, was attacked at his country home and shot dead. His wife, Mrs. Mary Utsenda Aber, sustained gunshot injuries and was taken to an undisclosed health facility for treatment.
The youngest of the siblings, Selumun Utsenda Aber, who was still reeling from the trauma of losing his two elder brothers and witnessing his father’s murder, also took his own life. As a result, Mr. Utsenda Aber and all his male children have passed away, leaving behind his wife and daughters.
The successive losses have left the remaining family members and the wider community deeply shaken. While the pattern of events has prompted questions about the circumstances, the profound psychological impact of repeated grief and trauma is recognised as a significant factor that can contribute to depression among surviving relatives.
