NDLEA abandons family of 2-year-old boy killed in Delta; survivor risks blindness
Nearly two years after a tragic incident in Delta State, where a two-year-old boy, Ivan Omorhiakogbe, was killed and his one-year-old brother, Omorhiakogbe Eromonsele, was severely injured by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the family is yet to receive justice or adequate compensation.
Unfortunately, stray bullets from the operatives’ guns struck the young brothers while they were at their mother’s shop.
Ivan, the older of the two, tragically died, while Eromonsele sustained a serious gunshot wound to his left eye, leaving him at risk of permanent blindness.
In the aftermath, both the Delta State Government and NDLEA had pledged to assist the family.
On November 5, 2023, it was announced that the one-year-old, Eromonsele, would be flown to the United States for medical treatment.
However, 21 months later, the child has not been sent abroad for treatment, and the family has not received any compensation for the loss of their child or the severe injury sustained by the survivor.
Senator Neda Imasuen, who has been involved in the case, described the N20 million compensation offered by the NDLEA as inadequate.
Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District and a member of the Labour Party, stated during a media interaction with the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo State that the Senate would not accept anything less than N100 million for the family.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the NDLEA’s reluctance to offer a reasonable compensation, given the severity of the incident.
“The case involved the shooting of two children of the same parents by the NDLEA in Delta State. The two-year-old boy was shot dead, and then you have the one-year-old brother and one of his eyes is almost blind.
“The NDLEA accepted that it was their fault and that the gun that was shot was their own gun and it was a mistake and all that.
“But, all they were now offering was N20 million for compensation for the dead child and the other one whose eye was almost going blind.
“I thought that was nothing compared to the damage done to the family. I mean, young children of two years and one year old.
“Only God knows what he would have become in life. Whether he would have become the president of this country, the Governor of his state, among others, only God knows.
“Just to cut his life short like that, and here his junior brother is almost going blind, and all you are offering is N20 million, which was not acceptable to me. So we are discussing that they should try to make sure that they have something reasonable,” he stated.
The family through their lawyer, Mathew Edaghede, has also demanded N2 billion in compensation, arguing that the loss of life and the damage to the survivor’s future should be valued far more than the NDLEA’s proposed amount.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State had earlier promised to assist the family.
On November 5, 2023, during a condolence visit, he assured the family that plans were in place to arrange for the treatment of Eromonsele in the United States.
He also indicated that a letter would be provided to the family to facilitate the process of obtaining a U.S. visa.
“NDLEA did not just go to that scene to raid; there was very reliable information. We went to the Federal Medical Centre to commiserate with the family and took care of the medical bills.
“We commend the NDLEA for sending a team for an investigation to ascertain what actually happened.
“I also instructed the Secretary to the State Government to give a letter to the family to get an American Visa for the treatment of the child abroad”, the governor said.
The NDLEA, under the leadership of Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), had also promised to expedite the process of sending the injured child abroad for medical care.
However, despite these assurances from both the state government and the NDLEA, as of the latest update, no action has reportedly been taken regarding the promised treatment for Eromonsele or any compensation for the family.
