Widow’s son crippled by soldiers’ bullet cries for help, as Army turns blind eye
Life has been anything but pleasant for Emmanuel since operatives of the Nigerian Army left him without a leg in September 2017.
Emmanuel, a resident of Iwofe, Rumuolumini area of Port Harcourt, was on the fateful day in September rushing to school in a tricycle when a bullet fired by unknown soldiers pierced through his hand and leg before also hitting another co-passenger, an elderly woman.
The soldiers, who were only in the area to arrest some young females over an unknown issue, immediately fled.
Emmanuel was rushed to the hospital, but delay in treatment due to lack of bed space at a military hospital and doctors’ strike at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) at the time meant the leg could only be amputated as it had become dead.
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The Army, after a petition from Emmanuel’s lawyer, picked delegates to visit him at the hospital with a promise of justice, but that has been the last time he heard from them. This is despite their claim that the culprits had been identified.
Since the time, he has unsuccessfully attempted to get the Army to pay for the offending soldiers’ callousness.
The victim and his widowed mother are now on the verge of being kicked out of their home in the Rivers State capital.
Emmanuel seeks help. He told Neusroom’s correspondent on Sunday evening that things have been very tough and they can’t afford to pay rent.
We can’t immediately get the Army for comments on the matter.
Here are Emmanuel’s account details: Account name – Emmanuel Chika Madubuezi; Account number – 0060952294; Bank – Sterling Bank.
