Omonigho Abraham, the 4-year-old boy who was attacked by two
dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State, has said the police and the government
must ensure that the dogs that almost took his life are killed, gooo/metro-plus/police-must-kill-dogs-that-attacked-me-boy/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>PUNCH Metro reports.
dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State, has said the police and the government
must ensure that the dogs that almost took his life are killed, gooo/metro-plus/police-must-kill-dogs-that-attacked-me-boy/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>PUNCH Metro reports.
The little boy, who is in the Burns
and Plastic Ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, told yesterday that
he would not return home until the dogs were dead.
and Plastic Ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, told yesterday that
he would not return home until the dogs were dead.
Narrating his ordeal, Omonigho, who still had a bandaged head, said he had
tried to run from the dogs when they started to attack him but he was
overwhelmed.
“I was playing with my brothers when
the dogs entered our flat. I could not jump, so they
bit my head. I pinched Gaddafi (one of the dogs), but he did
not leave me. It was when I heard the voice of my mummy that I woke up. I want
them to kill the dogs; I won’t return home.”
the dogs entered our flat. I could not jump, so they
bit my head. I pinched Gaddafi (one of the dogs), but he did
not leave me. It was when I heard the voice of my mummy that I woke up. I want
them to kill the dogs; I won’t return home.”
The young boy,
whose face was still marred with signs of the attack, wore a sad countenance
when he saw the gory pictures of his torn head on his father’s phone. He later
started playing games on the smart phone.
whose face was still marred with signs of the attack, wore a sad countenance
when he saw the gory pictures of his torn head on his father’s phone. He later
started playing games on the smart phone.
A worker in the ward who said the boy’s health had improved compared to when he
was admitted said:
“The day they brought him here
remains unforgettable for me. I couldn’t eat throughout that day because he
looked horrible.”
remains unforgettable for me. I couldn’t eat throughout that day because he
looked horrible.”
Omonigho’s scalp was bitten off by two dogs in their neighbourhood, while he
played with his brothers. Residents of the area and some policemen who besieged
the scene of the incident had done nothing to rescue him until his mother, Mrs.
Abraham arrived, fought off the dogs and snatched her son from their
jaws.
played with his brothers. Residents of the area and some policemen who besieged
the scene of the incident had done nothing to rescue him until his mother, Mrs.
Abraham arrived, fought off the dogs and snatched her son from their
jaws.
Omonigho’s father, Mr. Odiah, who was angry that the police claimed to have
saved the boy berated the police for failing to rescue his son. According to
him, the police are attempting to muddle up the
investigations.
He told PUNCH Metro that he even got a call from the
Divisional Crime Officer of the Igando Police Station asking him to come and “order
the release of the dogs to their owner”.
He said:
Divisional Crime Officer of the Igando Police Station asking him to come and “order
the release of the dogs to their owner”.
He said:
“She asked me to come and agree to
release the dogs to the owner or else, they would release the dogs to the owner
themselves. She said in the alternative, I should take the dogs to my house.
release the dogs to the owner or else, they would release the dogs to the owner
themselves. She said in the alternative, I should take the dogs to my house.
It was also learnt that
the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, paid a visit to the
victim at LASUTH. Odiah said:
the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, paid a visit to the
victim at LASUTH. Odiah said:
My wife even told him that at the
gate when she was about rescuing the boy, she asked one of the seven policemen
to follow her inside, but the police officer said, ‘am I the one that should
follow you to go and die?’. My wife said that was what gave her the courage to
go inside the rescue the boy,” he added.
gate when she was about rescuing the boy, she asked one of the seven policemen
to follow her inside, but the police officer said, ‘am I the one that should
follow you to go and die?’. My wife said that was what gave her the courage to
go inside the rescue the boy,” he added.
Odiah says since PUNCH Metro
reported the matter, he has been receiving support from Nigerians. Governor of
Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, sent his personal medical doctor, one Dr.Ufoma,
who discussed the possibility of the victim being flown abroad for further
treatment. The Lagos State Government, Ministry of Health, was also said to
have refunded money spent on his treatment, and promised to pay all other
expenses.
reported the matter, he has been receiving support from Nigerians. Governor of
Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, sent his personal medical doctor, one Dr.Ufoma,
who discussed the possibility of the victim being flown abroad for further
treatment. The Lagos State Government, Ministry of Health, was also said to
have refunded money spent on his treatment, and promised to pay all other
expenses.
The police spokesperson, Nwosu, also confirmed his visit to the hospital and
promised to investigate the allegation. He said:
“I was there on Friday as part of
our efforts to show concern. I told the mother that in the midst of all this,
what is more important is the life of the boy. If anybody has acted in an
unprofessional way, we will investigate and take the appropriate action.”
our efforts to show concern. I told the mother that in the midst of all this,
what is more important is the life of the boy. If anybody has acted in an
unprofessional way, we will investigate and take the appropriate action.”
He said the dogs were undergoing
tests and the results would be made public
tests and the results would be made public