Opinion
By Tennyson Sampson
THE tears of three siblings, who have been forced to become young adolescent orphans by the demise of both parents seem to be unending, even as their hope of survival has been dashed further by a reckless mortuary owner.
Realnews gathered that the ordeal of the two victims: Mercy Emmanuel Joseph, 22, an orphan and her son, Master Supreme Promise Amos, 5, from Etim Ekpo, began on December 20, 2022 at about 5pm, when they were returning from a church service on a motorcycle along Mbak Road, Ifa Atai and were knocked downed by the owner of Odiong Odiong Mortuary with his Volvo Ambulance.
Mercy told Realnews that the driver of the Volvo brutally ran over them and it resulted in the death of the motorcyclist, while her son and herself had their legs amputated at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH where they were admitted.
The two victims were forced to leave the hospital because of lack of funds to continue their treatment and they are now under the care of their older sibling, Marvelous Emmanuel Joseph, 27, and a final year student of Heritage Polytechnic in Eket.
Speaking on why the case has not been taken to court, Marvelous Joseph, said that the family of the Mortuary Owner had been threatening her life for daring to ask for financial assistance for the medical treatment and welfare of the victims.
“The reason I have waited until this long to report this incident is solely because the Shelter Afrique division of the Nigeria Police Force, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had intercepted and managed the case, and later transferred the case to the ‘A division’ at Barracks Road, Uyo, since it involved the death of the motorcyclist,” Marvelous said.
However, when Realnews contacted the PPRO, Odiko Macdon, through the telephone, he confirmed that Marvelous had contacted him on the case.
“Indeed the older sibling of the victims had been in touch with me.
“I have also advised the culprit on what to do,” he said.
He told Realnews that if the family of the culprit are not willing to support the victims, the family of the victims, reserves the right to seek legal actions.
Unfortunately, the family of the victims are poor and can hardly feed and does not have the finance to secure the services of a lawyer if they decide to go to court.
Meanwhile, when Chief Odion Odiong, father of the original owner of the Mortuary, was contacted through the phone, he claimed that they had done enough by taking the victims to the hospital initially. He explained that they couldn’t keep them further in the hospital and would not lend any further support to them.
Realnews reports that the victims are presently wallowing in pains and seeking the intervention and assistance of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, State Commissioners, well-meaning people of Akwa Ibom state and other kind Nigerians to ensure that they receive adequate medical treatment and justice from the accident caused by a member of the Odiong family.
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August 30, 2023 @ 16:45 GMT|
Tags: Marvelous Emmanuel Joseph Odiko Macdon Pastor Umo Eno
