•NDLEA, Delta govt must go the extra mile to get help for injured toddler

These aren’t happy times for the Omhonria family in Asaba, Delta State. The family lost a two-year-old son to a stray bullet fired by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who were hunting down fleeing suspects during a raid on drug dealers in Okpanam area of the state capital on July 13, last year. Another son, 20-month-old Eromosele, suffered a damaged eye from the same mishap that killed his older brother, Ivan.

The boys’ father, Fidelis Omhonria, said Eromosele’s eye could only be salvaged in the United States and the family has been in a frantic struggle to take him out. But there’ve been delays with visa processing and Omhonria alleges that assistance hasn’t been forthcoming from the NDLEA whose operatives caused the problem, and the Delta State Government that showed interest in the family’s ordeal and promised help. Both the anti-drug agency and state government argued that they were doing their best; but with the trauma of a damaged eye that little Eromosele daily forebears, there is need for more earnestness on this issue.

In his account, Omhonria recalled how his two sons were with their mother in her shop on Okpanam Road on the fateful day when a bullet tore in through Ivan’s chest and ricocheted to hit Eromosele in the left eye that was left bleeding. He managed to ascertain that the bullet came from NDLEA agents operating in the area at that time, as the boys were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for treatment. Ivan did not survive the mishap, while Eromosele suffered retinal detachment according to reported diagnosis. “After trying their best, doctors at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba…said they would have to refer (Eromosele) to Lagos because the situation of the eye was not one they could handle,” the father told ‘The Nation’, adding: “We came to Eye Foundation in Lagos and were there for more than one week. The consultant later said because he is a little child, they did not have the machine to see through the cornea of the affected eye because the damage was much. He advised that it would be better for us to take him out of the country. Another ophthalmologist (in Asaba) also said the best thing is to fly him out of the country.”

Omhonria recalled promises by the NDLEA to succour his family. He said efforts by officials of the agency to reach out to him were initially tentative, but NDLEA Chairman Brigadier-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa himself visited his Asaba home on November 2, 2023 and promised to take responsibility for the medical bills and expenses to fly the injured toddler to the U.S. for treatment. According to Omhonria, the promised support was not readily forthcoming and the Delta State government stepped in along the line to offer assistance with the bills. But even the state government, according to him, did not readily deliver on its offer and resorted to deflecting responsibility back to the NDLEA.

The biggest of Omhonria’s challenges, however, is the difficulty in securing visas for his family to take Eromosele to the U.S. for the medical help he urgently needs. The father lamented delays he has been experiencing with the American embassy’s processes and accused NDLEA of haven’t been of much help – indeed, has rather been more of a drawback. He alleged that he was turned down by the American embassy because NDLEA did not support his application with needed recommendation and proof of sponsorship.

According to Omhonria, he was advised by NDLEA to apply again and he expects the agency to throw in its corporate influence towards expediting the process. “I have been begging, I have been crying for them to save my son from losing his sight. They gave us 2025 for the second application I submitted. It is now left to the NDLEA to expedite it so that I can take my son out for treatment. Now the medical bill has been reviewed because of the exchange rate. It is now N150 million against the N67 million given to me,” he said.

In their responses, the NDLEA and Delta State government said they had been footing the bills of Omhonria in medical expenses and logistics towards securing travel documents to fly Eromosele out. “Let me put in on record that we provided all the necessary documents that we were required to provide to assist the family. We wrote a letter to the U.S. embassy confirming that we are sponsoring their trip, and that we’re also responsible for the medical bills… Even their coming to Abuja, all their expenses both travels and accommodation, we paid for that,” NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said inter alia. Delta Secretary to State Government (SSG) Dr. Kingsley Emu, spoke in similar vein. But we submit that much more needs to be done to assist the Omhonria family in getting Eromosele urgent medical help.

Besides its commitment to underwrite the medical bills, it is NDLEA’s responsibility to leverage its corporate clout and international connections in securing visas for the embattled family without further delay in view of the anguish being suffered by the toddler. The agency is doing a good job hunting down drug dealers, but the accident that caused Omhonria’s family the present trauma can’t be justified because it is better for a criminal to escape than an innocent person harmed.

The Delta State government as well has a duty to help the family because the harm was incurred within its jurisdiction. All hands must be put to deck to get little Eromosele the medical help he needs without further delay.

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