The hideous and grotesque
look of Benita Okereke has not made her warm disposition grow cold and
hard. Rather she remains optimistic that God would still open her file
which has been lying on His celestial table since December 2015.
On December 13, about 12 days to Christmas of that year,
in Obulor Ihetu village, Ishiagu
in Obulor Ihetu village, Ishiagu
community in Ivo Local Government Area
of Ebonyi State, while many people were bubbling, cleaning their homes
in readiness for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the joy
associated with the yuletide eluded the family home of Mrs Celina
Okereke. Rather, on that day, sorrow was planted instead as her
22-year-old daughter, Benita, suffered ill-fate as she was preparing
stew. At that most inauspicious moment, she had an epileptic seizure and
slumped into the fire, unconscious. She was in the fire for close to 20
minutes. By the time somebody noticed what had happened and came to her
aid, she had practically roasted in the red-hot flames.
of Ebonyi State, while many people were bubbling, cleaning their homes
in readiness for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the joy
associated with the yuletide eluded the family home of Mrs Celina
Okereke. Rather, on that day, sorrow was planted instead as her
22-year-old daughter, Benita, suffered ill-fate as she was preparing
stew. At that most inauspicious moment, she had an epileptic seizure and
slumped into the fire, unconscious. She was in the fire for close to 20
minutes. By the time somebody noticed what had happened and came to her
aid, she had practically roasted in the red-hot flames.
And as if the devil had marked her out for destruction, Benita told Sunday Sun
that little children who were at the scene watched her burn without
raising the alarm until some good spirits ministered to her mother that
something might be wrong in the kitchen. Expectedly, the weird
experience spread shockwaves throughout the community.
that little children who were at the scene watched her burn without
raising the alarm until some good spirits ministered to her mother that
something might be wrong in the kitchen. Expectedly, the weird
experience spread shockwaves throughout the community.
She suffered third degree burns on the left-hand side of her neck and face. The
flesh of the affected parts of the neck, face and upper shoulder
‘joined together’ as a result of tissue adhesion, thereby producing the
pathetic look she has today. Yet, there is hope that she can regain some
visual appeal if help can come to her today.
flesh of the affected parts of the neck, face and upper shoulder
‘joined together’ as a result of tissue adhesion, thereby producing the
pathetic look she has today. Yet, there is hope that she can regain some
visual appeal if help can come to her today.
With tear drops rolling down her cheeks, Benita narrated her ordeal to Sunday Sun,
recalling that she went to the kitchen about 4pm on that fateful day to
prepare some stew she uses to sell a local food item called agidi, made
from partly fermented, boiled and hardened corn starch, wrapped with
special green leaves. According to her, her mother had retired from the
business as a result of old age. And with that being their only source
of livelihood, she took up the business so that the family could, at
least, feed.
recalling that she went to the kitchen about 4pm on that fateful day to
prepare some stew she uses to sell a local food item called agidi, made
from partly fermented, boiled and hardened corn starch, wrapped with
special green leaves. According to her, her mother had retired from the
business as a result of old age. And with that being their only source
of livelihood, she took up the business so that the family could, at
least, feed.
Everything went on smoothly and the business was booming.
From the proceeds of the business, the family was able to foot some
bills and probably cleared debts owed in the past. But on that fateful
day, the weird incident occurred.
From the proceeds of the business, the family was able to foot some
bills and probably cleared debts owed in the past. But on that fateful
day, the weird incident occurred.
She told Sunday Sun that
while she was standing by the fireside, waiting for the stew to properly
cook, she lost consciousness and slumped into it. For about 20 minutes
or so, she lay in the fire burning and roasting unconscious of what was
happening to her. Given the gravity of the burns, a side of her face and
other parts of her body were disfigured. The once beautiful Benita is
today, a shadow of herself.
while she was standing by the fireside, waiting for the stew to properly
cook, she lost consciousness and slumped into it. For about 20 minutes
or so, she lay in the fire burning and roasting unconscious of what was
happening to her. Given the gravity of the burns, a side of her face and
other parts of her body were disfigured. The once beautiful Benita is
today, a shadow of herself.
Hear her: “I was preparing stew with which I would sell
agidi the next day. The stew was almost done when I suddenly lost
consciousness and didn’t know when I fell into the fire.
agidi the next day. The stew was almost done when I suddenly lost
consciousness and didn’t know when I fell into the fire.
“I was in the fire unconscious and no one came to my
rescue. Little children who were around did not raise the alarm or do
anything; they were just moping at me. My mother who was inside the
house decided to come to the kitchen to know how I was preparing the
stew. She was shocked to see me inside the fire.
rescue. Little children who were around did not raise the alarm or do
anything; they were just moping at me. My mother who was inside the
house decided to come to the kitchen to know how I was preparing the
stew. She was shocked to see me inside the fire.
“She held me on one leg and pulled me out of the fire. She
rushed and carried water and poured on my body. It was at that point
that I regained consciousness and realized that I fell into fire.”
rushed and carried water and poured on my body. It was at that point
that I regained consciousness and realized that I fell into fire.”
Because of paucity of funds, Benita was not given adequate
and appropriate medical attention. She revealed that she was subjected
to traditional medication which was casually carried out.
and appropriate medical attention. She revealed that she was subjected
to traditional medication which was casually carried out.
“Every morning, my mother would clean me up and lay me
back on the bed. And I would sleep on one side. That’s why I can’t stand
erect” she said.
back on the bed. And I would sleep on one side. That’s why I can’t stand
erect” she said.
Determined to better her lot, Benita who is the last of
eight children (now seven following the untimely death of the first
daughter), revealed that she resorted to begging. She said that the
family depended on the little money she made from begging to feed. But
as the financial muscle of the family grew very lean, their mother,
Celina, gave out some of her children to live with some privileged
families in the cities.
eight children (now seven following the untimely death of the first
daughter), revealed that she resorted to begging. She said that the
family depended on the little money she made from begging to feed. But
as the financial muscle of the family grew very lean, their mother,
Celina, gave out some of her children to live with some privileged
families in the cities.
“My mum is unemployed. We have no money to even feed. I go
out to beg so we can buy food. All my siblings were adopted by some
privileged people. It has been about three years since my father died.”
out to beg so we can buy food. All my siblings were adopted by some
privileged people. It has been about three years since my father died.”
Rejected by UNTH, Enugu
After she had been able to save some money the alms she
received benevolent people, she decided to go to a hospital for
treatment. As Benita put it, she crossed the seven proverbial seas and
forests to reach the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH),
Enugu. The hospital, located in the sleepy Utuku-Ozalla community in
Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State is quite far away from
Benita’s community in Ebonyi State.
received benevolent people, she decided to go to a hospital for
treatment. As Benita put it, she crossed the seven proverbial seas and
forests to reach the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH),
Enugu. The hospital, located in the sleepy Utuku-Ozalla community in
Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State is quite far away from
Benita’s community in Ebonyi State.
“I was taken to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,
Enugu for treatment but I was rejected by the hospital management. The
doctors and nurses avoided me like the plague because of my condition
and asked my mother to check elsewhere.
Enugu for treatment but I was rejected by the hospital management. The
doctors and nurses avoided me like the plague because of my condition
and asked my mother to check elsewhere.
“They said that we can come back for further treatment
when the wound I sustained had healed because according to them, I was
suffering an ailment other than the burns. The doctors and nurses
completely isolated me. In frustration, I told my mother to take me
home. I went home without getting any treatment.
when the wound I sustained had healed because according to them, I was
suffering an ailment other than the burns. The doctors and nurses
completely isolated me. In frustration, I told my mother to take me
home. I went home without getting any treatment.
Angelic private nurse to the rescue
Moved by the sufferings of Benita, a nurse attached to a
private hospital in Ishiagu community, Favour Hospital and Maternity,
Mrs Igwe Justina Obiageri, took it upon herself to dress Benita’s wounds
every two days at almost no cost.
private hospital in Ishiagu community, Favour Hospital and Maternity,
Mrs Igwe Justina Obiageri, took it upon herself to dress Benita’s wounds
every two days at almost no cost.
Speaking with Sunday Sun,
Mrs Igwe said that as a mother, she was emotionally moved to assist the
girl. She condemned the medical officers at UNTH for rejecting a
patient, saying it was unprofessional.
Mrs Igwe said that as a mother, she was emotionally moved to assist the
girl. She condemned the medical officers at UNTH for rejecting a
patient, saying it was unprofessional.
Igwe disclosed that when she started attending to the
victim, she was already decaying. She said that she scooped out a number
of maggots from the wound.
victim, she was already decaying. She said that she scooped out a number
of maggots from the wound.
“If the medical officers at UNTH had attended to her, her
condition wouldn’t have worsened. I found maggots in her wounds and they
were biting her. I had to give her tetanus toxide injection.
condition wouldn’t have worsened. I found maggots in her wounds and they
were biting her. I had to give her tetanus toxide injection.
“Before I started treating her, a putrid smell used to
pervade the area around her. You could not even come near her. If you
had seen her before now, you would not have believed that she would
survive,” she added.
pervade the area around her. You could not even come near her. If you
had seen her before now, you would not have believed that she would
survive,” she added.
Igwe called on good spirited individuals, especially the
Ebonyi State Government to come to Benita’s aid as she needs surgical
operation to restore her looks to normal.
Ebonyi State Government to come to Benita’s aid as she needs surgical
operation to restore her looks to normal.
Pain, tears of a mother
Benita’s aged mother, Celina Okereke, while interacting with Sunday Sun almost broke down in tears. She lamented that friends, family and close relatives have deserted them.
But not willing to give up on the girl that shut the doors
of her womb, Celina said she had sought for solution in the available
traditional medicine homes which the family could afford without
fruitful result.
of her womb, Celina said she had sought for solution in the available
traditional medicine homes which the family could afford without
fruitful result.
“I took her to a number of traditional medicine homes. I
have been finding it very difficult to cater to her needs and that of my
grandchildren who were abandoned for me by their mothers. I have no
helper; I have been managing Benita’s problem without help,” she said.
have been finding it very difficult to cater to her needs and that of my
grandchildren who were abandoned for me by their mothers. I have no
helper; I have been managing Benita’s problem without help,” she said.
Celina recalled that Benita started suffering from birth.
She was delivered through caesarean surgery. From one problem to the
other, the mother and child spent five months in the hospital before the
doctors certified them medically fit to go home.
She was delivered through caesarean surgery. From one problem to the
other, the mother and child spent five months in the hospital before the
doctors certified them medically fit to go home.
“It was hellish giving birth to Benita. I passed through
caesarean operation in a hospital in Abuja. We spent five months in that
hospital before the doctors said we could go home,” she recalled.
caesarean operation in a hospital in Abuja. We spent five months in that
hospital before the doctors said we could go home,” she recalled.
Benita’s prior woes
For the 22-year-old spinster, life has been very cruel.
From the day she was born to her present age, it has been a tale of
agony. In fact, if her life were to be a book, it probably would be
half-filledl with stories of pain.
From the day she was born to her present age, it has been a tale of
agony. In fact, if her life were to be a book, it probably would be
half-filledl with stories of pain.
Born in May 1995, Benita started school with her mates but
her challenge in school was that she was forgetful. She said that her
learning capacity was slow and as such relied on her classmates to put
her through when their teacher had finished on the blackboard.
her challenge in school was that she was forgetful. She said that her
learning capacity was slow and as such relied on her classmates to put
her through when their teacher had finished on the blackboard.
At the moment, the victim who was schooling at Echi-ele
Community Secondary School stopped at JSS3 due to the high degree of
burns she sustained.
Community Secondary School stopped at JSS3 due to the high degree of
burns she sustained.
She is also epileptic, a condition that began to manifest
when she was 12 years old. She recalled that she falls down about seven
times every day. She said that the condition has defied several
medication. She added that they sold their family land to raise money for her treatment.
when she was 12 years old. She recalled that she falls down about seven
times every day. She said that the condition has defied several
medication. She added that they sold their family land to raise money for her treatment.
“I don’t know why these things are happening to me. They
said that my future is very bright; hence, the enemies are hell-bent on
cutting it off,” she lamented.
said that my future is very bright; hence, the enemies are hell-bent on
cutting it off,” she lamented.
Benita, however, pleaded with Governor David Umahi, the
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and other good
spirited individuals to come to her aid.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and other good
spirited individuals to come to her aid.
Her desire is to become a fashion designer and would
appreciate vocational skill training in the making of clothes. With
skill acquired she would be able to fend for herself and take care of
his mother.
appreciate vocational skill training in the making of clothes. With
skill acquired she would be able to fend for herself and take care of
his mother.
In the meantime she desperately needs to undergo corrective surgery to restore her neck region and burnt face to normalcy.
•Benita can be reached through: 07036519048; donations
should be sent through the account of the nurse that is caring for her,
using the following details: Account Name: Igwe Justina Obiageri.
Account Number: 0718525424, Access Bank.
should be sent through the account of the nurse that is caring for her,
using the following details: Account Name: Igwe Justina Obiageri.
Account Number: 0718525424, Access Bank.