Leadership (Abuja)
Ruth Tene, Gloria Usman and Ruth Yamta
29 December 2011
Abuja — Chimobi Dike is an 11 year old boy who attended the St. Theresa Catholic Church with his father for the Christmas Mass, but fell victim to the heinous December 25th Christmas bombing which claimed several lives and left several others wounded.
Though too weak to speak with LEADERSHIP reporters, his elder sister who was tending him, Oluchi Dike broke down in tears when LEADERSHIP sought to interview her, and all she could say was “his wounds were left open and the hospital staff had promised to come and check up on him, but were yet to come” as at the time of filing this report. Weeping, Oluchi who had not been to the church on the fateful day told LEADERSHIP that the young boy had gone to church with his father, where both had fallen victims of the blast.
Spotting terrible burns with swollen eyes through which he cried to his sister for help, it is obvious that young Chimobi is going through serious pains, as a heavy soiled bandage rests on the left side of his abdomen. Oluchi said: “We have just returned from a scan and though the hospital assured that Chimobi is going to be okay, they are still holding unto the results of the scan”, she wept bitterly.
Reacting to questions about the state of their father, Oluchi broke down and referred the reporters to the general ward of the hospital where she said he was also receiving treatment. LEADERSHIP’s efforts to reach the father and other victims in the male and female wards were rebuffed by the hospital.
AllAfrica – All the Time