SERGEANT ATTANG MUST NOT DIE!
The
last time I checked, a good and patriotic Nigerian domiciled in Imo State was
seriously down owing to a bravery posture he displayed recently. His name is
Sergeant Otu Attang and he hails from Akwa-Ibom State. He was one of the police
personnel that were on guard when armed robbers stormed the Zenith Bank
situated at Wethedral road, Owerri four months ago, precisely on Wednesday
February 22, 2017.
It would be recalled that on that
fateful day, a group of gangsters followed a client of the said bank to the
banking premises and reportedly made away with
2.5 million naira. On storming
the banking arena, one of the policemen on duty in the person of Sergeant
Chukwudi Iboko, now late, who hailed from Abia State displayed an uncommon
gallantry by firing the armed robbers and in the process, succeeded in killing
one of them at the spot.
The three police officers on duty
namely, messers Chukwudi Iboko, Sunday Agbo and Otu Attang who individually
performed as expected, unfortunately sustained various degrees of injury as a
result of the bullets received during the physical combat. They were rushed to
the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri where they were treated till the early
hours of the following day being Thursday 23rd February 2017 when
the two surviving officers were transferred to the Police Clinic, Shell Camp,
still in Owerri; it’s noteworthy that Sergt. Iboko gave up the ghost at the FMC
as at 4am.
When the remaining two officers were in
the Police Clinic, Sergt. Agbo who hailed from Benue State equally passed away.
According to Sergt. Attang whose right eye was shattered by bullets and had
already undergone series of surgeries, when he was in the clinic, the Zenith
bank donated #200,000 and #400,000 respectively – totaling #600,000 – on two
different occasions. And after that, had ceased to continue catering for him.
He disclosed that, he was compelled to leave the clinic for a private hospital
named ‘Mercy Hospital’ located in Orji, Owerri North L.G.A because he could not
further cater for the exorbitant bills that kept coming on a daily basis while
in the former, and only his family was reportedly left to foot the bills.
It’s worthy of note that most surgeries
conducted thus far were all carried out during his admission at the Mercy Hospital,
and the poor family was mainly the financier of these. In order not to go into
much details, which could be inconsequential, this piece was informed by the
compelling need to notify the general public on the pressing need of the said
surviving officer, though critically ill. As recommended by a well-experienced
consultant neuro-surgeon, Sergt. Attang who now wears prosthetic eye still
needs to undergo some urgent surgeries.
It
was gathered that there were bullets still lodged in his skull and jaw, and
needs the recommended medical operations to have them removed. The life-saving
surgeries are expected to cost about 3 million naira. Since the Police as well
as the bank in question had declined from further financial supports, he is
left with no other option than to plead with the public, particularly well-spirited
individuals, to come to his rescue before he becomes a dead man.
Personally, I would have love not to raise any
provocative issue, or sound too emotional, on this platform but yet posterity
wouldn’t forgive my person if I fail to appraise a few facts herein. Then if I must air my view outrightly, I would like to verify at this
juncture why the affected bank, and of course the Police, would refuse to duly
cater for the wellbeing of a man who sustained injuries while in active
service.
I learnt that only after a threat was issued
by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch, disclosing its intent to
sue the bank and the Police on the ground that the families of the deceased
police personnel had been abandoned by the aforementioned institutions, that
the latter (Zenith bank) announced its interest to grant scholarship to the their
children. But, it’s not about putting up an announcement or telling the entire world
that you have accepted to do this or that; rather, it’s all about doing only
the needful thereafter. God is indeed watching, and the law of Karma will
surely prevail.
Worse
still, it’s mind-boggling to learn that the critically-ill Sergt. Attang has
alongside his family been residing in a batcher, even prior to the incident.
Acknowledging this fact, one would begin to wonder why a well-decorated police
sergeant in Nigeria could not rent at least a one-bedroom apartment, let alone
a single flat. It’s really surprising and pathetic. No wonder why some junior
police officers now resort to conniving with miscreants towards carrying out an
intended crime, or collecting gratifications on our various major roads,
thereby defacing the outlook of the revered institution. However, nothing ought
to serve as a tangible excuse for indulging in any form of criminal act.
Before I drop my pen, I want to call on the
government, that of Imo State in particular, to join hands in coming to the
rescue of this fine gentleman – Sergeant Otu Attang – so that he would be proud
of being a police officer posted to serve in the state. On the other hand, we
should as well immortalize the two that are already dead because they died as
heroes. Think about it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
________________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador
http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor
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