Ozoemena, a 28-year-
old man, arrived in
Lagos, his plan was to
set up a business so
that he would be able
to support his
widowed mother and
his seven siblings in
Anambra State.
Soon after, he was
able to open a
restaurant in Trade
Fair Complex, FESTAC,
and it
seemed his
dream was coming true.
His expectation was however eroded after a drunken police
corporal, Mohammed Abubakar, shot him in the eye.
Ozoemena told whisperNaija.com source he was shot in the eye in
the FESTAC area on August 5, 2013.
Narrating what transpired on the fateful day, he said, “I had just
returned from work and I was about entering my house at Amuwo
Odofin when I heard the policeman arguing with someone in the
next house. The policeman then called his colleagues for help.
“When his colleagues arrived, they persuaded him to leave the
place because he was drunk. After much pleading, the policeman
left. A few minutes later, the policeman returned with a gun and
started shooting sporadically.
“One of the bullets hit me in the right eye. A barber, Bright John,
was killed.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that during the shooting, a pregnant woman
was hit while anther man, Tayo Ajasa, was also shot in the thigh.
It was learnt that the policeman, who is attached to a security
company in the area, fled the scene after realising the havoc he
had wreaked.
Ozoemena and the other victims were later taken to the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba.
It was learnt that while other victims were treated and discharged,
Ozoemena, was taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the
hospital, where the eye was operated.
The company was also said to have contributed N146, 000 to pay
the medical bill.
The victim, who had been discharged, told PUNCH Metro that he
had not been able to go to work since the incident occurred.
He said he had been in constant pains and had found it difficult to
sleep.
Our correspondent observed that pus was coming from Ozoemena
eye. But the victim said the pus was the least of his problems.
He said, “I am in so much pain. The unfortunate thing is that I
have not been able to tell my mother about the incident because I
don’t want her to worry.
“I don’t have perfect vision anymore. In fact, a few days ago, I was
knocked down by a vehicle coming from the right side while I was
attempting to cross the road.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,
Umar Manko, had declared the policeman wanted.
Manko said the wanted policeman was attached to Police Mobile
Force 17, Akure, Ondo State, and wondered what he was doing in
Lagos.
However, Ozoemena’s lawyer, Mr. George Nwahajioke, said the
police must compensate his client. The lawyer said declaring the
policeman wanted was not enough, adding that the victim’s
expectations had been eroded by the loss of his eye.
Nwahajioke, who lamented the increase in police brutality, said,
“Nigerians are living in fear of arrogant culture of impunity within
the Nigeria Police. Nonso Ozoemena is just one of the few lucky
Nigerians to survive as our police, who are supposed to protect us,
now turn the barrel of their guns at us.
“We are demanding N100m as compensation from the police and
the company jointly and severally to help our client get the urgent
medical attention he needs.”
All efforts to contact the company proved abortive as an email
sent to it was not replied, while a text message sent to it was not
responded to.
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