Family they say is the major bedrock of the society, a support force and an agent of socialization. What then happens to the main purpose of belonging to a family, when siblings become enemy of themselves, children becoming murderers of their parents and themselves.
One of such cases is that of Miss Munirat Alhaji, an 18 years old indigene of Ojodu, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, who was unfortunately burnt by acid poured on her by her own blood brother.
Munirat is currently going through severe pains and close to the point of self-condemnation, in the female surgical ward of Federal Medical Center Lokoja.
We gathered that her brother, who is currently cooling off in the Police net, accused their mother of being responsible for his inability to be successful in life after consulting a witch doctor.
Narrating the incident in her hospital bed with pains, Miss Munirat said “I was sleeping that unfaithful day at about 1am in the night of 28th August 2019. Suddenly, I heard my mother shouting from her room. When I rushed down to her place, I discovered that my brother had poured acid on her body. He didn’t stop there.
“My brother went further to use stick to hit mother as if something is manipulating him. When I tried to stop him from killing mother, he then decided to pour the acid on my face and body. That was how I found my self in Federal Medical Center Lokoja. I was shocked when my brother said he consulted a native doctor who informed him that she is responsible for his travails.
“My mother died three months after both of us were admitted here in FMC Lokoja due to primary damage done on her by the chemical. Now for me to survive, the hospital said I need about two million naira to undergo surgery and pay all outstanding bills in the hospital
“I am from a poor family. My mother is dead now. Nigerians should save my life. Don’t allow me die like my mum due to the acid burns. My dream in life is be a great woman in this world. Please, don’t allow this dream to die as am in a critical condition in Federal Medical Center Lokoja”
While pleading for financial support so as to increase her hope of survival Miss Munirat said should could be reached via this phone number 08155546519. Also with the following account details:
Account Name: Munirat Alhaji
Account Number: 2140712131
Bank: UBA
Meanwhile, the doctor in charge of the case, Dr Ebune Ojochide, a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, with the Federal Medical Center Lokoja, in an interview with our correspondent stated that Miss Munirat, a Senior Secondary School II student, was admitted on 29th August 2019 with acid burns which was said to be done by her sibling.
Dr Ojochide said a lot of treatment have been carried out on the patient stressing that acid burn is not something that can be worked on immediately.
The surgeon noted that what they have now is the scaring and damages done on the skin that needs correction and it requires stage by stage procedures to bring back to near perfection.
“The major reason why the attack was carried out was primarily to cause damage and disfigure the victim. We need to improve the function armies such as the mouth, ear and appearance although not to perfection but near perfection.
The major obstacle holding them is the challenge of mobilising funds for the surgery to improve her appearance and give her hope of survival,” he stated.
On the cause of her mother’s death, Dr Ebune explained that the mother sustained primary damages which resulted to her death.
He, however, appealed to the government to try and limit access to deadly chemicals like acid, adding that is becoming worrisome that it is been used to perpetuate crime in the society.
