…pleads with public for N5.5m lifeline to procure artificial leg for amputated victim
When Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley Ezera Kalu got wedded on September 2, 2017, the couple had hope to live together happily ever after. But this was not to be!
This couple’s dream of a good life was shattered into smithereens a little over a month after their wedding by a gunshot!
Precisely on October 18, 2017, the couple had gone to a popular store in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja to purchase a gallon of milk. It was in the course of doing this at the store that tragedy struck! The husband, Kingsley, was suddenly hit on one of his legs by a stray bullet fire by a policeman in the vicinity.
A disagreement had earlier ensued among some policemen within the premises of the store, but within a twinkle of an eye, the policemen allegedly resorted to firing some gunshots and one of the stray bullets hit Kingsley on his left leg.
Since then, the man has become incapacitated and has been writhing in pains, while his wife, Chidinma, has been his only support. He was taken from one hospital to the other for treatment for the gunshot injuries, but all to no avail. Eventually, the affected leg was amputated!
And now his distraught wife is pleading with public-spirited Nigerians to offer some financial help to the family to enable the victim to procure an artificial leg to replace the amputated one that will make it possible for him to walk again.
we were at the shawarma spot when we heard voices outside the building, but still inside the premises. We stood up to know what was going on and we saw some police officers arguing amongst themselves. Just immediately, one of them cocked his gun and sensing danger, we decided to leave, but before we could exit the door, we heard rapid gunshots
Narrating how the bullet from the gun of the feuding policemen caused the tragedy that suddenly struck their young marriage, the victim’s wife, Chidinma Elekwachi-Kalu, said, “We wedded on the 2nd of September, 2017 and on the 18th of October, 2017, a tragedy struck. At about 6:30pm, my husband and I, in company with my brother, Eke Elekwachi, went to Exclusive Stores and we were at the shawarma spot when we heard voices outside the building, but still inside the premises.
“We stood up to know what was going on and we saw some police officers arguing amongst themselves. Just immediately, one of them cocked his gun and sensing danger, we decided to leave, but before we could exit the door, we heard rapid gunshots. When it ceased, I then turned behind and saw my husband on the floor screaming for help!
“It was when I realised that he had been hit by one of the bullets on his left leg that I started screaming for help and he was rushed to Maitama Hospital, where he was attended to. By the next day, he was referred to the National Hospital as an emergency case, but he wasn’t treated as such. He was practically abandoned for six days and by then, the leg was already dead.
“We moved him on that same day to Cedar Crest Hospital against the wish of the National Hospital authorities, who still wanted to keep him for reasons unknown to us. After the examination at Cedar Crest, the doctor said it was late.”
She alleged that a proper treatment that was urgently needed to help her husband to walk again was not given him because the police failed to take responsibility for the shooting incident.
“The leg was dead already days after the shooting and so the best option was amputation, as gangrene had already set in. Though it was painful, we had to consent to save his life and on the 27th of October, it was done. All these while, the police had only brought N150,000 and all efforts to get them to take full responsibility for their action has proved abortive till date,” the victim’s wife said.
The victim’s sister-in-law, Chidinma, also said that the refusal of the police to take responsibility for the action of one of their men forced the family to bring the matter to the public.
She, therefore, pleaded for support from public-spirited Nigerians.
“After several months of several hearings on this issue and waiting for the Nigeria Police to take responsibility for the reckless action of one of their own men, who caused injury to a private citizen, the Nigeria Police have done nothing to compensate Kingsley and his wife,” she said.
The family is appealing to Nigerians to assist the victim to raise the N5.5million needed to procure a prosthetic leg to enable him to walk again and live a normal life.
Chidinma added, “Nigerians, please, donate to help Kingsley get a prosthetic leg so that he and his wife can resume their normal lives. Any donation will be highly appreciated. No donation is too small!
“God bless you as you open your heart to give towards our goal of getting Kingsley back on his feet.”
According to the family, cash donations can be made directly to: Kingsley Ezera Kalu, First Bank, 3064776931.
