Jos Crash Victims Lament Ordeal, Seek Assistance

Victims of an auto crash that recently occured near St. Finbar’s Catholic Church, Rayfield Jos in Plateau State and their families are calling for assistance to settle their medical bills, saying the incident had incapacitated them.

Isaac Dung, Nathan Bayei and Chomo Dachung were returning home after watching an Arsenal and Manchester United match when an allegedly drunken driver rammed into them, leading to the amputation of two individuals’ legs and paralysis of the other. They are currently receiving treatment at the Potters Specialist Hospital in Jos.

Nathan Bayei, while speaking with LEADERSHIP-Weekend, said doctors told him that his recovery process would take four to five months, adding that the accident had left him with one leg and one hand.

“As I talk to you, I do not know what the future has for me. As far as I am concerned, it is a hopeless situation for me. I pray God should take control,” he said.

Isaac Dung said the challenge was enormous as he had not been able to sleep for even 10 minutes in the last three weeks.

“My leg is smelling, I can barely sleep, even when I am injected with 1,000 ml of codeine. The pain is unbearable, I cannot continue like this, I want to go home,” he said amidst tears.

Families of the three young men have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding justice for their relatives.

The spokesman of the families who spoke to LEADERSHIP-Weekend described the situation as inhuman, saying the families were not happy that the driver who was arrested after the accident was released by the police to a surety who promised to foot the bills for surgeries but after paying N2 million from a bill of N8 million, he disappeared.

A sister of one of the victims, Jemimah Bayei, said after the incident, the victims were rushed to hospital but with the severity of the injuries, doctors had no option but to amputate their legs as they were severely damaged.

Jemimah further said after the incident, all parties had agreed that the driver’s family would cover all the victims’ medical expenses, which amounted to about N8 million, even before the end of the treatment.

However, she alleged that the guardian of the driver, Mr Bulus Damul who stood in for him, reneged on the agreement, leaving the families with a burden they cannot afford.

Another relative of a victim, Mrs Bridget Pam, lamented what she described as an injustice, calling on the relevant authorities to assist them.

“We have been left with medical expenses that we cannot afford. My brother cannot sleep; he has lost his leg completely. We are urging the relevant authorities to compel the family to cover the medical expenses of our brothers,” she said.

Mr Damul who reacted to the accusation that he abandoned the victims, denied not responding to their calls, saying he had gone to the hospital to visit them with his family and his pastor.

“Initially, I agreed to pay 80 per cent of the medical expenses and the victims’ families would pay 20 per cent. I have already paid N2 million. However, the controversy started when they later brought an MoU stating that I must pay N30 million as the estimated medical bill, or if I don’t set aside that amount, I would pay N75 million.

“From there, I said no, because that was not the initial agreement. I am also responding to their calls; I never said I would take them to court,” he said.