Taiwo Lawal, a
one-year-old baby, who was shot in the head by armed robbers in the Gbagada
area of Lagos State on Sunday needs N500, 000 for treatment.
Taiwo, along with many
others were shot by the robbers who robbed victims in various parts of the
state with impunity.
Taiwo’s father, Wasiu
Lawal, told our correspondent that the toddler was hit by a stray bullet during
the robbery.
He said, “On Sunday
afternoon, Taiwo and my neighbours’ children were playing in the compound when
the robbers began shooting.
“Taiwo is still toddling.
The other children immediately ran into their houses but Taiwo was hit in the
head by a stray bullet.”
Eyewitnesses said Taiwo
was hit by the robbers’ bullets when they opened fire on a policeman, Emmanuel,
and another victim, Sikiru Abiodun, who later died on Monday during a surgery
to remove the bullets in his body.
A vulcanizer, who craved
anonymity said, “I don’t know the exact number of robbers that invaded our
neighbourhood that day but they came in a Nissan Armada Sports Utility Vehicle.
“The robbers were said to
have snatched the car from someone at Ogudu. The robbers forcibly took the
vehicle’s owner with them in case the car had a security device.
“One of the robbers was a
woman while the men were dressed in native attire. The robbers opened fire on
the policeman and shot indiscriminately. It was in the process that Taiwo was
shot.”
Our correspondent learnt
that Taiwo and other victims were immediately rushed to Gbagada General
Hospital but Taiwo was immediately placed on oxygen and drip.
PUNCH Metro learnt
that Taiwo was subsequently transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital,
Idi-Araba because of the severity of his injury.
Our correspondent, who
visited the hospital, learnt that Taiwo was admitted at Modular Operating
Theatre Centre where a surgery was immediately performed on him.
The victim’s aunty,
Mariam, told our correspondent that the bullet was successfully removed from
Taiwo’s skull but added that he was still in critical condition.
She said, “When we got to
LUTH, a scan was done and it was discovered that the bullet pierced through one
end of Taiwo’s skull to the other end but the bullet did not exit through the
other end. The bullet also missed his brain.
“According to the doctors,
if the bullet had exited his skull, he could have bled to death. Although the
nurses have prevented us from seeing him since the surgery on Tuesday because
visitors are not allowed to enter the Intensive Care Unit, they assured us that
he is doing fine.
“However, raising money
for treatment has been very hard. So far we have spent over N120, 000 and we
will need more money. CT Scan, drugs and other medical procedures which will be
done will cost a lot of money. We don’t know how much everything will cost but
we were told that we would spend at least N500, 000.”
The victim’s father
appealed to members of the public as well as the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde
Fashola, to come to his aid.
“All the security agents
that were wounded are being taken care of by the government. I’ve spent all my
money. I appeal to the governor to assist me so that my son will not die,” he
said.
Meanwhile, the LASTMA
official who was shot by the robbers, Moruf Sosan, has been discharged from the
hospital.
A LASTMA official, who
confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone, said Sosan would only be
going for regular check-up but would be confined to bed rest at home