Appeals for funds to undergo surgery to avert total blindness
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
An Osun State-based businessman, Oladipupo Temitope Fayehun, has described his ordeal in the hands of some dare-devil kidnappers in the state as horrific and excruciating.
Fayehun said that he lost one of his eyes while being tortured by the men of the underworld for his inability to raise N5 million demanded by his abductors as ransom.
Recounting his ordeal and that of other victims in incarceration, he said that some travellers, including students, were killed by the kidnappers.
Fayehun, a pure water merchant, said that he was kidnapped alongside others by some suspected Fulani men along the Otan-Ibokun Road on March 2, 2021.
The victim, popularly called Olushow, said that he lost one of his eyes while being tortured.
Fayehun, a native of Ilesa, alleged that he would have regained his sight but was unable to raise money for surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, immediately after being freed by the kidnappers.
To save himself from losing the second eye and going totally blind, he claimed that he needed the sum of N460, 000 for urgent surgery.
He said that he had been told that he might go completely blind if he failed to provide the money for the eye surgery within the shortest possible time.
“They kidnapped some of us and took us to the bush and dehumanised us for eight days. During this period, my eyes were affected. They also broke my left arm among other things. My eyes were mostly affected. I went through hell because I could not raise the N5 million ransom that they demanded”
Explaining how the alleged Fulani abductors waylaid and abducted them, he said that one of his workers with whom he was traveling, was killed in the process.
Fayehun said that he was dehumanised for eight days before his eventual release after raising some amount of money for ransom.
In a bid to raise the ransom for his release and his eye surgery, he said that he ended up selling his properties and emptying his bank account.
“I am a pure water trader. I was coming from Otan-Ile, the community where I work. When I got to Ibokun town, I ran into a group of Fulani herdsmen. During this tragic encounter, one of my staff popularly called Motor Boy was killed alongside some students of Oke-Imesi Polytechnic.
“They kidnapped some of us and took us to the bush and dehumanised us for eight days. During this period, my eyes were affected. They also broke my left arm among other things. My eyes were mostly affected. I went through hell because I could not raise the N5 million ransom that they demanded.
“After I regained freedom from the kidnappers’ den, I have not been able to see clearly with my two eyes. I have spent all the money that I have and even sold my belongings for ransom and to treat my eyes. One of my eyes is totally blind and the other can’t see clearly. I can neither read nor write.
“I had visited hospitals and the results showed that if I didn’t go for surgery quickly, I may not be able to see again with my eye. They gave me a deadline for this surgery. That’s why I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians to assist me. The hospital asked me to pay N460, 000 before they start the surgery. I don’t have any money because I have not been able to work after I was released. Please, help me,” he pleaded.
His account details for financial assistance to undergo the eye surgery is given as: Fayehun Oladipupo Temitope. 0151442244; GTBank.
