By Frank Ulom
He was born normal, going about his normal business, helping his family and contributing to the society, but for the past 23 years, Mr Daniel Imo can not longer do any of these things, and urgent intervention.
Imo, a 44-year-old indigene of Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, who can no longer bear his condition, is appealing to the Federal Government, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu and well-meaning Nigerians for support.
He said he has remained bedridden for 23 years after suffering a spinal cord injury in a workplace accident.
Imo, in an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, said the life-changing incident occurred on October 10, 2003, while he was working as a delivery van driver for a pharmaceutical company in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He recalled that after completing his secondary education in 2000, he travelled to Onitsha in search of better opportunities.
He first worked as a machine operator in a plastics company before attending a driving school with his savings and later secured employment as a commercial driver before joining the pharmaceutical company as a delivery van driver.
According to him, he was delivering goods to customers in Fegge, near the River Niger Bridge, when a stray cow suddenly charged at him, knocking him down and leaving him with severe injuries.
He said he was initially treated at a nearby clinic before being referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, where medical examinations confirmed a cervical spinal cord injury.
Doctors, he said, requested an initial deposit of N75,000 for surgery, but his family could not raise the money.
Imo further alleged that funds reportedly released by his employer for his treatment were diverted by a company manager, a development he claimed was later uncovered by the company’s director after his relatives confronted the management over the firm’s absence during his prolonged hospitalisation.
He, however, said he has had no contact with the company since leaving the hospital and does not know whether it is still in operation.
He said he was eventually taken back to his village, where he remained bedridden until 2014 when communal violence between Adadama in Cross River State and a neighbouring community in Ebonyi State forced his family to flee for safety.
According to him, his relatives had no option but to leave him behind because they could not carry him through the bush while escaping the attack.
He said he was locked inside the house before his family fled and was later rescued after a distress message he posted on Facebook attracted the attention of a Nigerian based in the United Kingdom, who arranged for his evacuation from the community.
Recounting his daily struggle, Imo said he has no sensation from the neck downward and depends entirely on caregivers to turn him on the bed, feed him and attend to his daily needs.
He said years without adequate physiotherapy have left most of his joints stiff, while recurring infections and chronic bedsores have worsened his condition.
He disclosed that although attempts were made to raise funds for advanced treatment, including possible surgery abroad, they were unsuccessful.
“At this stage, I am no longer thinking about treatment because my condition has become medically complicated. What I need now is support for feeding, medications and other daily needs,” he said.
When The Guardian contacted his mother, Mrs Justina Imo, she said her son’s condition has left her physically, emotionally and psychologically devastated.
She said she has not seen Daniel since 2014 when the communal conflict forced her and other family members to flee for their lives, leaving him behind because his condition made it impossible to evacuate him, a situation that was beyond her.
Mrs Imo said the pain of living apart from her son and watching his condition deteriorate over the years has taken a heavy toll on her health, revealing that she developed high blood pressure from constant worry and emotional trauma.
Describing her son’s condition as heartbreaking, she appealed to the Federal Government, the Cross River State Government, corporate organisations, philanthropists and compassionate Nigerians to support him with medical care, feeding and rehabilitation.
“My son has spent 23 years on the sickbed. His future was cut short by this unfortunate incident. I appeal to the government and kind-hearted Nigerians to come to his aid. Even if he cannot fully recover, he deserves a better quality of life and the support to live with dignity,” she pleaded.
For those willing to support Daniel Imo, donations can be made through:
Account Name: Daniel Imo
Bank: United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Account Number: 2072008766
For further enquiries, contact: 07031655209.
