Lagos robberies: Shot baby needs N500,000 for treatment

Taiwo Lawal, a one-year-old baby, who was shot in the head by armed robbers in the Gbagada area of Lagos State on Sunday needs N500, 000 for treatment.

Taiwo, along with many others were shot by the robbers who robbed victims in various parts of the state with impunity.

Taiwo’s father, Wasiu Lawal, told our correspondent that the toddler was hit by a stray bullet during the robbery.

He said, “On Sunday afternoon, Taiwo and my neighbours’ children were playing in the compound when the robbers began shooting.

“Taiwo is still toddling. The other children immediately ran into their houses but Taiwo was hit in the head by a stray bullet.”

Eyewitnesses said Taiwo was hit by the robbers’ bullets when they opened fire on a policeman, Emmanuel, and another victim, Sikiru Abiodun, who later died on Monday during a surgery to remove the bullets in his body.

A vulcanizer, who craved anonymity said, “I don’t know the exact number of robbers that invaded our neighbourhood that day but they came in a Nissan Armada Sports Utility Vehicle.

“The robbers were said to have snatched the car from someone at Ogudu. The robbers forcibly took the vehicle’s owner with them in case the car had a security device.

“One of the robbers was a woman while the men were dressed in native attire. The robbers opened fire on the policeman and shot indiscriminately. It was in the process that Taiwo was shot.”

Our correspondent learnt that Taiwo and other victims were immediately rushed to Gbagada General Hospital but Taiwo was immediately placed on oxygen and drip.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Taiwo was subsequently transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba because of the severity of his injury.

Our correspondent, who visited the hospital, learnt that Taiwo was admitted at Modular Operating Theatre Centre where a surgery was immediately performed on him.

The victim’s aunty, Mariam, told our correspondent that the bullet was successfully removed from Taiwo’s skull but added that he was still in critical condition.

She said, “When we got to LUTH, a scan was done and it was discovered that the bullet pierced through one end of Taiwo’s skull to the other end but the bullet did not exit through the other end. The bullet also missed his brain.

“According to the doctors, if the bullet had exited his skull, he could have bled to death. Although the nurses have prevented us from seeing him since the surgery on Tuesday because visitors are not allowed to enter the Intensive Care Unit, they assured us that he is doing fine.

“However, raising money for treatment has been very hard. So far we have spent over N120, 000 and we will need more money. CT Scan, drugs and other medical procedures which will be done will cost a lot of money. We don’t know how much everything will cost but we were told that we would spend at least N500, 000.”

The victim’s father appealed to members of the public as well as the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to come to his aid.

“All the security agents that were wounded are being taken care of by the government. I’ve spent all my money. I appeal to the governor to assist me so that my son will not die,” he said.

Meanwhile, the LASTMA official who was shot by the robbers, Moruf Sosan, has been discharged from the hospital.

A LASTMA official, who confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone, said Sosan would only be going for regular check-up but would be confined to bed rest at home.