A 37-year-old man, Mr. Anayo Gabriel, who was
allegedly shot by a policeman attached to Morogbo Police Station, has accused
the Nigeria Police Force of shattering his leg and abandoning him at the
National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos State.
The shooting of Gabriel’s leg, which landed him at
the orthopedic hospital, occurred on December 24, 2016.
According to him he was in a commercial bus, heading
home when some policemen flagged down their bus. The policemen allegedly
demanded for money from the bus driver.
When the bus refused to bring out the money on time,
one of the policemen threatened to shoot. He had forgotten that his rifle had
been earlier corked.
Gabriel said: “Before we knew what was happening,
one of the policemen opened fire. The bullet hit the driver slightly on his leg
and got me on right leg. The policeman and his colleagues immediately escaped,
leaving the driver and I in a pool of blood.
“Some students
of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, rushed us to a
private clinic in the area. The matter was officially reported at the police
station. After first aid, I was taken to a local orthopedic hospital in the
area for treatment.”
He said that since the incident, he had spent a lot
of money. He said his family was also suffering because he was on sick bed and
couldn’t provide for them.
Gabriel further said: “I was abandoned at the
hospital. Each time I called the DPO to complain about the manner the police
were maltreating me, he would shout at me; he said the police cannot take care
of me and my family members’ all together.”
Gabriel urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr.
Ibrahim Idris and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to
come to my aid.
Gabriel explained that the hospital told he would
need to undergo a surgery and returned to the hospital after two months.
He said: “The last time the DPO sent his boys to me was
February 15; I still have about two surgeries to carry out. The DPO said the
police can only afford one operation. If not because of the gunshot injuries I
sustained, there wouldn’t be any reason for me to be in hospital. When the
wound was not healing, I was transferred to Igbobi Orthopedic hospital. But before
I was moved, I and the Morogbo Divisional Police Officer had an agreement that
they would take care of my family members.”
The confirmed that the police have paid about N
247,000 for his treatment.
Gabriel said: “The Area K Police Command, Commander,
sympathised with me, but they are gambling with my health. My nerve is
seriously damaged. My children are out of school and I have about N196, 000 to
be paid for the next surgery. The police are denying me. To pay for dressing of
the wound is also a problem because I have emptied my savings account. The food
provided here is not enough for me. They told me that they would either pay for
my children school fees or forgo my treatment. They should please come to my rescue;
I don’t want to lose my leg.”
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