Family Of Toddler Shot By NDLEA Cries For Urgent Medical Intervention

ABUJA – The family of Eromonsele Omhonria, a two-year-old boy who was shot in the eye by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Delta State, has raised an alarm over the lack of medical attention provided to him since the incident.

Despite the severity of his injury, the family claims that no treatment has been offered to the young boy, leaving them desperate and seeking help.

The elder brother of the victim, Ivan, was killed in the incident by the bullets of the NDLEA officers.

The NDLEA officers were said to be conducting a raid nearby on July 13, 2024 and the children were struck by stray bullets.

Ivan was two and Eromonsele was one at the time of the incident.

The parents of the children on Tuesday said they had been abandoned by the Agency.

This was as the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions entertained the matter which was brought to it by the family.

The family had petitioned the House of Representatives and the matter was heard for the second time on Tuesday.

In attendance were the parents of the children, their lawyer as well as representatives of the NDLEA.

The father, Fidelis, said the surviving sibling of the unfortunate incident has been abandoned by the Agency.

Addressing members of the House Committee, the lawyer of the family, Mathew Edaghese, said whenever the little boy cries blood comes out from his eye and mixes with the tears.

The family said following the incident the hospital in Data referred them to an eye specialist hospital in Lagos, which further referred them to a hospital in the United States.

He said even the hospital recommended by the NDLEA recommended them to the same hospital outside the country but since then were abandoned by the Agency.

“In respect of the surviving child with this gunshot to the eye, effort has been made in his private capacity to get this child flown to where he was prescribed to at a hospital in the United States of America by the best medical-faceted eye on eye issues in Nigeria, Eye Foundation in Lagos.

This recommendation was done within the first week of this incident. And they were aware of it. They did nothing about it. And the family had made several attempts to get visa. It was denied because it is not coming from the appropriate authority that caused the problem. One year and two months after, the child is still in pain. As of last week, a piece of glass dropped from his eye. If he cries as we speak, blood will be missing with the tears.

“Over one year after, a situation that was recommended for emergency attention, NDLEA went to sleep and wants him to deteriorate beyond redemption. We want to plead with this body to facilitate the trip of this innocent child whose destiny is under a serious attack for treatment where he has been recommended for treatment overseas,” Edaghese said.

The family has in their petition demanded the sum of N2 billion from the NDLEA for compensation.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Mike Etaba, said the surviving child must get immediate treatment.

He however said the N2 billion demand was not feasible.

Etaba urged the NDLEA to accept that the matter be stepped down and settled between the family, the NDLEA and the committee on terms that would be accepted to all parties.

The committee chairman expressed displeasure that Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa rtd did not show up for the hearing in person.

He invited Marwa and the parents of the children to meet with the committee in his office on Thursday, 24th October at 10am to resolve the issue.

Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, NDLEA, Theresa Asuquo, who represented Marwa, agreed to the terms.

Asuquo has told the committee that the matter was before the court and should not be entertained.

She was cautioned against misleading the committee, as the ongoing court case, State vs. the erring officers, does not preclude the House from proceeding with its investigation.