Man shot by gunmen appeals for help to undergo surgery

A 57-year-old man, Izete Jeremiah, who was shot in the mouth by gunmen is battling for life at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that he can neither speak nor eat food. Jeremiah was shot on April 7, at Odiguetue community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

“He was shot in his mouth by suspected herdsmen who invaded their farms. We have been at the hospital since April 7. My husband can’t speak and eat, except through the nose with the aid of a pipe. We have spent all our savings and even borrowed. We don’t have money again; even the drugs they gave us were bought by relatives of patients through contributions.

“We have spent over N500,000 excluding hospital bill, now he has to undergo surgery on the damaged jaw so that he can eat and talk and they need over N800,000,”  said Jeremiah’s wife, who is taking care of him in the hospital.

Also speaking, a matron in charge of the ward where Jeremiah is receiving treatment, who didn’t want to be mentioned in print, said the patient’s family is soliciting funds to buy the jaw plate as well as funds for surgery.

“The patient is owing almost N350,000 hospital bill. But what we need now is the money to buy a jaw plate, which is N446,000. Also, they need money for the surgery and drugs so that the surgery can commence for him to be able to speak and eat.”