Special appeal to Dangote Foundation and others

On behalf of a young man whose story is told in his own words below, I am appealing to the trustees of Dangote Foundation, as well as other charitable organisations and individuals to please respond to his appeal for help. Umar Suleiman is a kidnap victim whose life was shattered after he was shot on the Kaduna-Abuja highway last year. Ironically, this happened just after he had landed a job in the Federal Capital and was optimistic his future was bright. His sad story is better told in his own words: 

“My name is Umar Suleiman, and I am from Kaduna state. I am a proud alumni of ABU Zaria.

In 2017, I got a job at a Research Development Agency in Abuja, but this new-found joy was cut short very quickly. On my way back home from Abuja to Kaduna, after I finished documentation, I was attacked by kidnappers along Abuja-Kaduna expressway. They shot me on my hand and back which resulted in a spinal cord injury. I completely lost control of my kidneys, bowel and any sensation below my abdomen.

I was admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja where they did all they could to stabilize me. I stayed for four weeks but due to some medical expediency, the doctors did not remove the bullet at the time.

Because of accumulated expenses, I asked for referral to ABUTH Zaria were I stayed for ten days waiting to see a consultant. When he eventually came and went through my referral letter, he said they couldn’t admit me because they had many other patients. He then advised me to go to another hospital.

I decided to go to a specialist hospital in Kano were they removed the bullet, and I stayed for ten weeks before I was discharged.

It has been a year now, but I still can’t sit up. I am bedridden and I can’t even put into words how difficult life has been.

I decided to consult doctor in India, who told me that there was a complication during the operation which resulted in my present situation, but that they could fix it. He then sent me the estimated cost for the clinical evaluation and the treatment, which is 22,400 US dollars equivalent to N8,064,000. But this estimate excludes the traveling expenses. If you include travelling expenses for two, cost of accommodation and feeding, the total will be roughly N10.8 million.

God knows I don’t have this kind of money and that is why I am seeking your help. Nothing is too small, if you all bring in your drops of water, it might just make a mighty ocean.  

I am appealing to all people of goodwill to please come to my aid.  As you do this for me, may Almighty God, who rewards where man cannot, replenish your pockets a thousand-folds, amin.”

During my phone conversation with Umar, I’d found out that already well-meaning individuals have contributed to the fund and a little over three million naira has been realised now. But this is less than half the amount needed to help Umar out of his predicament. So kindly respond to this special appeal by taking up this cause and donating generously to it. 

The tragedy that befell Umar can happen to anyone, since any of us can become a victim of kidnappers and armed robbers on our highways. May Almighty Allah reward your effort in this regard, amin. For more information on how to help Umar or aid the Save Umar campaign, you can call this number:  0703 6925868.