Bricklayer frets over lives of two kids in hospital

One of the fathers of the victims who was injured after a housewife crashed her jeep into some pedestrians at the Ilaje Road, Bariga, Lagos State, has accused the family of the woman of abandonment.

Mr. Obi Onu,   whose two children were among the injured, was at the Gbagada General Hospital on Tuesday.

Onu said: “My two children, nine-year-old Ebuka and Akachukwu 11, were returning from an errand on that fateful night when the vehicle rammed into two of them. The younger one sustained serious injuries. He hit his head on ground; blood gushed out from his two ears. As I speak with you now, my son can’t speak and hear very well. Other parts of his bodies were seriously affected. Before I got to the scene, they had been rushed to the hospital by the policemen.”

On Saturday night, about 9pm, a female driver allegedly had a brake failure and rammed into pedestrians at Ilaje bus stop. Three people died, while many were injured.

Among the dead were a pregnant woman and two motorcyclist riders. The wounded had fractures and broken limbs.

Although Onu’s kids lived, he was however not happy with the family of the woman who caused the death and injuries of many.

Onu said: “Since Saturday, my children have been abandoned by the family of the woman who drove the vehicle. They didn’t even make provision on how my children would be cared for. I have spent about N50, 000, 00. But on Tuesday, when some of the driver’s it was the only way they could assist my children. As a bricklayer, where do they expect me to get the money the hospital management would be demanding from me?”

Onu appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, to come to the aid of his children and other victims. According to him, the female driver wasn’t showing any attempt to help in offsetting the hospital bills.

“I was asked to carry out an X-ray on the two children but I can’t afford the money, let alone the medical bill,” said Onu.

The family of Azeez Alatishe, another victim of the accident, said they had accepted their fate.

The younger brother of the victim, Nurudeen Alatishe, who spoke on behalf of the family, said that what happened to his elder brother was an act of God.

He further said: “My brother was standing beside his vehicle, receiving a phone call when the jeep slammed into him. It was some of his friends who were at the scene that rushed him to the hospital. He sustained injury on the head, shoulder and serious fractures on the leg.”

Another father, Apostle Great, said his two daughters, 18 and 14 year olds were involved in the accident.

He said: “As a pastor, I have accepted whatever that happened to my children as an act of God. But the family of the driver of jeep only came on Monday with the police. I don’t think I have anything to collect from them because what happened that day was a serious tragedy in the community. About 18 people sustained injuries. My daughter had been discharged.”