Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori on Monday visited one-year-old Eromosele Omorhiakogbe currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center, Asaba for gunshot injury from stray bullets fired by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) along Okpanam Road last Thursday. The governor directed the hospital to forward the cost of treatment to the state government.
While Eromonsele was shot in his left eye, his two-year-old brother, Ivan, was not that lucky as he was killed by a stray bullet.
Governor Oborevwori however expressed joy that Eromonsele was recovering and assured the grieving family that the culprits would be brought to book.
Commiserating with the family on the unfortunate demise of Ivan, the governor said that the Police were already investigating the matter and would make their findings known to the general public at the end of the inquiry.
According to Governor Oborevwori, “When we heard the unfortunate news, we immediately issued a statement calling on the NDLEA authorities and the Police Command to quickly investigate the circumstances which led to the death of your son, and injury to his younger sibling.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, we commiserate with you and your family over the loss of your son, Ivan.
“We have so much confidence in the police; and as you know, they are carrying out their investigation. They will not make the outcome public until they are through with their investigations. So be rest assured that the culprits would be brought to book”.
To the medical team, the governor said “Let me also appreciate the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for the proactive action they have taken so far since the incident occurred.
“I had sent people here earlier to find out what they are doing, and I am happy that they were able to save Eromonsele’s life, and I know that he will come out strong.
“The State Government will foot the bills for the hospital treatment, so no money should be taken from the family”.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, assured the governor and the family of the victim of the Command’s commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation into the matter.
Abbas assured that the police would do their best to unravel the mystery behind the whole incident. He said “We have sent messages to the NDLEA, and they have responded; and in no distant time, we will come out with a report that would be made known to members of the public.
“Once again, we commiserate with you, and we pray that God Almighty will give you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“For Eromonsele, we are praying that God will lay His healing hands upon him to perfect his health”.
Briefing the governor earlier, the Head of the Opthalmology Department at the hospital, Dr. Ernest Ogbedo, said they have successfully covered the eye to prevent it from being infected, adding that further surgeries would be carried out.
“We have done one surgery, but the child is going to need some other surgeries because there is an eye injury that the doctors went through and covered the injury.
“We did an x-ray first and luckily, there were no bullet pellets around. But we are going to carry out further investigation to see the extent of the injury.
“We have succeeded in covering the eye so that there will be no infections and other diseases to the eye,” Dr. Ogbedo said.