Where she was kept would stir emotion even in a stone
hearted being. What came to the mind of many was why any parent would banish
their own child to such a despicable solitary confinement.
hearted being. What came to the mind of many was why any parent would banish
their own child to such a despicable solitary confinement.
The grubby dungeon,
located in front of her family apartment, was built with carton board
and roofing sheets ostensibly to ward off the elements and gave it the
semblance of a dwelling place. The less than four feet high structure could be mistaken for
cage for dog.
located in front of her family apartment, was built with carton board
and roofing sheets ostensibly to ward off the elements and gave it the
semblance of a dwelling place. The less than four feet high structure could be mistaken for
cage for dog.
Sadly, this had been the abode of 16-year-old Blessing
Olokumo in the last two and a half
years.
Olokumo in the last two and a half
years.
Blessing, a twin, whose little frame betrays her age, cuts
the picture of neglect and abandonment. Her parents might have locked her up in
the cage which had no window to keep her
away from the public out of shame or
wanted her dead.
the picture of neglect and abandonment. Her parents might have locked her up in
the cage which had no window to keep her
away from the public out of shame or
wanted her dead.
Blessing’s condition is pathetic. Unlike her twin sister in
senior secondary school class 2, Blessing never had the opportunity of seeing
the four walls of a school due to her health challenge with the result that she
could only communicate in Isoko, her mother’s native dialect.
senior secondary school class 2, Blessing never had the opportunity of seeing
the four walls of a school due to her health challenge with the result that she
could only communicate in Isoko, her mother’s native dialect.
Though the father is an indigene of Ayibabiri community in
Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, the mother, Binaese,
is from Igbide in Isoko South local government area of Delta.
Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, the mother, Binaese,
is from Igbide in Isoko South local government area of Delta.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that though Blessing’s was born
normal, her problem started about 13 years ago when she was aged three in Delta
State.
normal, her problem started about 13 years ago when she was aged three in Delta
State.
She was said to have suffered from convulsion, which
was not properly taken care of by her parents probably due to ignorance. The
father was then said to have acted against doctor’s advice by forcefully taking
her away from the hospital where she was receiving treatment because he could not
afford the N15,000 medical bill.
was not properly taken care of by her parents probably due to ignorance. The
father was then said to have acted against doctor’s advice by forcefully taking
her away from the hospital where she was receiving treatment because he could not
afford the N15,000 medical bill.
The convulsion was said to have worsened over time due to poor medical
attention leading to her abnormal behaviour.
attention leading to her abnormal behaviour.
The ailment is also believed to be responsible for her
retarded growth when compared to her twin sister, a beautifully grown girl.
retarded growth when compared to her twin sister, a beautifully grown girl.
Although physically challenged kids like her deserve decent
life, love and adequate medical attention, in her case she was treated
cruelly; locked up in a cage lacking
window for proper ventilation and light.
life, love and adequate medical attention, in her case she was treated
cruelly; locked up in a cage lacking
window for proper ventilation and light.
The place where she was confined for almost three years by
her father shares fence with a medical facility where she is now receiving
treatment.
her father shares fence with a medical facility where she is now receiving
treatment.
Co-tenants, who could have notified the authorities on the
girl’s plight, looked the way ostensibly
for fear of incurring the wrath of her father whose relation, Sunday Vanguard
learnt, owned the house they are living in.
girl’s plight, looked the way ostensibly
for fear of incurring the wrath of her father whose relation, Sunday Vanguard
learnt, owned the house they are living in.
Succour however came her way last weekend when a concerned
native of Okolobiri alerted the group, the Mary Slessor Twin Foundation, which
rescued her and took her to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital,
Okolobiri where she is receiving treatment.
native of Okolobiri alerted the group, the Mary Slessor Twin Foundation, which
rescued her and took her to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital,
Okolobiri where she is receiving treatment.
When this reporter, on
Thursday, visited what once served as her home, it was discovered that a
rubber carpet had been laid on the bare floor with a view to making it look a
little decent due to the public interest generated after her predicament was
reported.
Thursday, visited what once served as her home, it was discovered that a
rubber carpet had been laid on the bare floor with a view to making it look a
little decent due to the public interest generated after her predicament was
reported.
A resident berated the girl’s parents. “This is the height
of man’s inhumanity to man, especially coming from one’s own father. The girl
though is retarded doesn’t deserve the treatment meted to her. Before now, she
used to walk freely around from her parents apartment to her mother’s kiosk by
the roadside without disturbing anybody,” the resident said.
of man’s inhumanity to man, especially coming from one’s own father. The girl
though is retarded doesn’t deserve the treatment meted to her. Before now, she
used to walk freely around from her parents apartment to her mother’s kiosk by
the roadside without disturbing anybody,” the resident said.
The girl, on admission at the teaching hospital courtesy of Mary
Slessor Twins Foundation, cut the
picture of a six-year-old. Her confinement
and lack of care apparently left her
malnourished, as according to the doctor handling her case, “she is 16
year old but her weight is like that of a five year old.”
Slessor Twins Foundation, cut the
picture of a six-year-old. Her confinement
and lack of care apparently left her
malnourished, as according to the doctor handling her case, “she is 16
year old but her weight is like that of a five year old.”
Acting President of the
Foundation, Mr. Tonyon Ebitei Robert,
said she was locked up because she was defecating around the family house.
Foundation, Mr. Tonyon Ebitei Robert,
said she was locked up because she was defecating around the family house.
According to him, Blessing’s father, who is also a twin and
a security official with the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, allegedly built the cage and
locked up his daughter to keep her away from the main house.
a security official with the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, allegedly built the cage and
locked up his daughter to keep her away from the main house.
“She was kept like a rabbit. She was given food when it was
available and was allowed to sleep in her vomit, faeces, urine. She lost weight
and could have died,” Robert said.
available and was allowed to sleep in her vomit, faeces, urine. She lost weight
and could have died,” Robert said.
He explained that the group,
known for its campaign against maltreatment of twins, was contacted by
concerned indigenes of Okolobiri community where the Olokumo family resides.
known for its campaign against maltreatment of twins, was contacted by
concerned indigenes of Okolobiri community where the Olokumo family resides.
Blessing, he said, was rushed to the teaching hospital where
she is being given medical treatment.
she is being given medical treatment.
Though the father was not around when Sunday Vanguard
visited as he was said to have gone to Yenagoa for a verification exercise, the mother of the girl
was sighted at the hospital keeping her company. The woman, who identified
herself as Binaese, said the girl was locked up because she was roaming about
and disturbing other neighbours, a claim
that was dismissed by a resident who said the girl though has health
challenges hardly disturbed anybody.
visited as he was said to have gone to Yenagoa for a verification exercise, the mother of the girl
was sighted at the hospital keeping her company. The woman, who identified
herself as Binaese, said the girl was locked up because she was roaming about
and disturbing other neighbours, a claim
that was dismissed by a resident who said the girl though has health
challenges hardly disturbed anybody.
Dr. Deji, who was attending to the girl when Sunday Vanguard
visited her, said: “We gathered that when she was three years, she started
having convulsion and the convulsion worsened over time and due to the poor
control of the convulsion she started having abnormal behaviour.
visited her, said: “We gathered that when she was three years, she started
having convulsion and the convulsion worsened over time and due to the poor
control of the convulsion she started having abnormal behaviour.
“About three years ago, the father decided to keep her in an
enclosure outside the house and, over time, she degenerated. She wasn’t well
kept and her weight wasted. She is 16 years but her weight is like that of
a five-year-old child.”
enclosure outside the house and, over time, she degenerated. She wasn’t well
kept and her weight wasted. She is 16 years but her weight is like that of
a five-year-old child.”
According to him, the girl is a bit reserved most likely as
a result of the trauma she may have undergone. The doctor went on: “There are
signs of obvious neglect over time. It is the case of a child having seizure
disorder which some people might call epilepsy, and was not treated appropriately. She was not
given adequate medical attention and kept
out of the house in a restricted environment and barely fed which resulted in malnutrition.
a result of the trauma she may have undergone. The doctor went on: “There are
signs of obvious neglect over time. It is the case of a child having seizure
disorder which some people might call epilepsy, and was not treated appropriately. She was not
given adequate medical attention and kept
out of the house in a restricted environment and barely fed which resulted in malnutrition.
“She is responding gradually to treatment and is a bit more
interested in her environment. When I first saw her, she refused my coming
close to her but she now obeys instructions.” President of the Mary Slessor
Twins Foundation, Robert, gave kudos to
the medical personnel handling her case saying she has improved tremendously.
According to him, the group would lodge
formal complaint with the police and the welfare department of Bayelsa State
Ministry of Women Affairs.
interested in her environment. When I first saw her, she refused my coming
close to her but she now obeys instructions.” President of the Mary Slessor
Twins Foundation, Robert, gave kudos to
the medical personnel handling her case saying she has improved tremendously.
According to him, the group would lodge
formal complaint with the police and the welfare department of Bayelsa State
Ministry of Women Affairs.
“Criminal charges of child abduction, inhuman treatment,
child molestation and failure to enroll the child for proper education will be
brought against the parents,” he said.
child molestation and failure to enroll the child for proper education will be
brought against the parents,” he said.
Also, the Chief Nengi James Foundation, on Thursday, visited the girl in hospital and made a cash donation to
assist the Mary Slessor Twins Foundation pay Blessing’s medical bills.
assist the Mary Slessor Twins Foundation pay Blessing’s medical bills.
Represented by the immediate past Secretary of the state
chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Alagoa Morris, the
Chief Nengi James Foundation urged parents to cater for their kids no matter
the circumstances.
chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Alagoa Morris, the
Chief Nengi James Foundation urged parents to cater for their kids no matter
the circumstances.
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