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How Strayed Bullet Strikes Roof, Injures 12-Year-Old Boy in Lagos

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 17th, 2024.

How Strayed Bullet Strikes Roof, Injures 12-Year-Old Boy in Lagos

A 70-year-old woman’s evening took a tragic turn when a stray bullet pierced the roof of her kitchen and struck her 12-year-old grandson in the eye. The family is now appealing for public support to fund urgent surgery for the boy, Adewale Akinwande, as reported by KUNLE AKINRINADE.

On July 26, Madam Victoria Akinwande was preparing dinner at her home on Oko Oba Road, Agege, Lagos, when a loud noise disrupted her. A bullet had crashed through the kitchen roof and lodged in Adewale’s left eye, causing severe injury and blood loss.

Initially, the family sought help at a nearby pharmacy, but the boy was turned away. He was then rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, where doctors identified the object as a bullet embedded in his eye.

The bullet had created a large hole in the roof before causing Adewale’s injury. “We thought it was a stone at first, but tests confirmed it was a bullet,” explained family spokesperson, Ahaja Risikat Akala. The family had previously sought help at various facilities, but each found the case beyond their capability.

The incident has been reported to the Abattoir Police Division. Police visited both the scene and the hospital where Adewale is receiving treatment. “We reported the matter to the police, who are now investigating,” Akala said.

Madam Akinwande, deeply distressed, described the situation as baffling, noting the bullet’s unknown origin. She is now burdened with the care of Adewale and his siblings, along with her ill son, following the departure of Adewale’s mother.

Doctors at LASUTH have indicated that Adewale’s surgery will require specialized surgeons and could cost approximately N3 million. The family lacks the funds needed for the procedure, prompting their appeal for financial assistance.

Donations can be made to an Ecobank account number 3510099310, under the name Akinwande Adewale Julius. For more information, Alhaja Risikat Akala can be reached at 08055250234.

The Lagos State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the boy’s injury was reported on August 13, two weeks after the incident, and an investigation is ongoing. However, Akala disputes this, asserting that the police are misrepresenting the incident.

A scan from LASUTH confirms the bullet’s presence in Adewale’s eye. The report details fractures and the bullet’s location, underscoring the seriousness of the injury.