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From Okey Sampson, Aba
On February 15 this year, 33-year-old Ogwo Onuoha, a labourer at the Ngwa Road Market (New Market), Aba, Abia State, took his wife and three boys out to celebrate the Valentine’s Day.
The man, who hails from Item in Bende Local Government of Abia State and lives at Alayi Street, off Ngwa Road in Aba, wanted to give his family a treat. Never did he suspect that tragedy would strike soon after.
When the Onuohas returned home at about 8pm, there was power outage. And as the children retired to bed, Onuoha went out within the neighbourhood to buy something. Back home, the wife was trying to put on their lantern. And that was the beginning of the family’s woes.
Onuoha narrated: “I was still at the place where I went to buy something when I got information that my family members had been severely burnt by fire. I learnt that my wife went out and bought kerosene to put in our lantern. And as she lit a match and put on the lantern, the kerosene inside exploded and set fire on my wife of seven years and our two eldest sons.”
It was only Onuoha’s room in the building that was affected by the fire before neighbours put it off. But by then, the damage had been done to his children, wife and their belongings. His wife and their two eldest sons, aged seven and five respectively, were severely burnt in the fire.
“I took my wife and the two boys to a private hospital within the area, but after two days, the younger child died. Three days later, my first son, who was seven years old, also died. After the death of my second son, the medical doctor advised that I should take my wife to Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba for proper medical attention. He said her blood level was 0.18 per cent. The saddest part is that this was happening when I just came back from burying my second child.
“Since I had no money to take my wife to ABSUTH, a friend advised me to take her to another private hospital within the area, which I did. At the new hospital, my wife was admitted and the medical doctor asked for a deposit of N50, 000 before she could be treated. Having expended all my life savings in taking care of my wife and the two children before they died at the first hospital, I had to sell my property to raise the money for the deposit.”
Onuoha said since that February, his wife has been at the hospital and that sometime last month, the doctor told him that a plastic surgery needs to be performed on his wife to boost the healing process. “The doctor told me to bring N1.5m for the surgery if my wife is to live. Since the incident happened, I have spent well over N700, 000, including the money I borrowed from people. right now, I have no kobo on me anywhere.
“Since that time, I have been sleeping in the hospital, taking care of my wife and this has badly affected my income. To make matters worse, the doctor has removed my wife from the hospital ward she was and kept her at the corridor of one of the rooms without any further medication. That is worsening her condition, as the wound on her leg has been infested with maggot as a result of decay due to lack of proper medication. Nobody is taking care of my only surviving two year old son because of the condition of the mother,” Onuoha lamented.
Onuoha said his wife needs about N2 million to remain alive. He is appealing to good spirited individuals and corporate organisations to come to his aid. “I don’t want my wife to die. She is the only thing that is left for me in this world,” he pleaded.
Onuoha wants donations to be made to Mr. Ogwo Onuoha with Diamond Bank account number 0094946241. He may be contacted on 07064211592.
