Two of the tipper drivers, who sustained gunshot injuries after a yet-to-be-identified naval rating shot at them, have lamented that the naval authorities have neglected them.
Source reported that three tipper workers, resident in the Majidun, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, sustained gunshot injuries after a drunken naval rating shot at them.
According to punchng, The police were said to have arrested the rating, who some residents claimed was celebrating his birthday at the time and became inebriated, before picking a gun and shooting sporadically.
The victims were reportedly rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, before being transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Two of the victims, Timothy Danchaba and Abbas Bello, claimed that they were not well treated before they were discharged from the hospital.
Danchaba, while recounting the incident, said he had resumed for work on the fateful Monday and was going about his business when he was suddenly hit by a bullet in the leg.
He said, “I deal in sharp sand and granite at the Majidun Tipper Garage where the incident happened. Around 3pm, we started hearing gun reports. One of the bullets pierced through my leg and came out from the other side.”
The other victim, Bello, said he was eating at a canteen in the park when he was hit by a bullet.
Bello, a tipper driver, said, “At LUTH, a scan was run on my leg and by Friday, the doctors said the two of us were okay and we should be reporting to the hospital every Thursday.”
The victims said their legs had been adversely affected, adding that feeding their families had also proved difficult.
A family member of one of the victims, who identified himself simply as Jude, said efforts to reach the naval authorities to get further medical and financial assistance had been difficult.
He said, “We made effort to speak with the navy at Ikorodu, but we were chased out by one Taiwo and the CSO.
“These people have families and if not for this incident, they will be working and feeding their wives and children.
“Timothy’s (Danchaba) bones have been broken due to the gunshot and it is unlikely he will be able to do anything meaningful for himself and his family for the next three months. It is a bad injury.”
A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, condemned the attack on the men, saying his chamber will handle the case pro bono.
He said, “The murderous attack on the three unarmed citizens by the naval rating cannot be tolerated in a civilised society. We have been briefed to take up the unprovoked assault on the three gentlemen.
“Apart from demanding the suspect’s trial for attempted murder, we shall sue the naval authorities and claim reparation for the victims of the gross human rights abuse. Having allowed the suspect to move around with a loaded rifle, the military authorities are vicariously liable for the negligence which occasioned the reckless shooting.”
