Few weeks to passing out from the National Youth Service, Sunday Abegunde was shot by robbers, who invaded the Corps Members’ Lodge in Urum, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Bullets were removed from his left thigh. But, he is still carrying bullets in his right thigh, which doctors say will come out with time. The pains, he says, are umbearable. He is also accusing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the community where he served of abandoning him. MMADUKA ODOGWU (Political Science) writes.
When Sunday Abegunde was posted to Anambra State for the National Youth Service, he never dreamt that he would be a robbery victim.
His experience during the 2012/2013 Service Year is making him to question the rationale for the one-year mandatory programme.
While his colleagues were rejoicing over their passing-out last February, doctors were battling to save Sunday’s life after he was shot by hoodlums.
Twice, Sunday had a close shave with death when his residence was attacked by robbers in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he did his primary assignment. He served at the Community Secondary School in Urum.
The first robbery occurred some months into the one-year mandatory service. A robbery gang invaded the Corps Members’ Lodge, where Sunday and his colleagues were living, carting away phones, laptops and cash among others.
While the hoodlums ransacked the rooms, some Corps members jumped the fence to escape into the bush. Those who could not escape were attacked with sharp objects. Sunday escaped being shot when the robbers met him at the entrance.
The hoodlums returned a few weeks before the Passing-Out Parade of the Batch “A” Corps Members, during which Sunday was shot in the thighs at close range. He was left in a pool of his blood. His colleagues ran into the bush while the assailants carted away their belongings. The women, who could not escape, were molested.
The robbers, Sunday said, waited for several minutes to ensure that he was dead before leaving.
Sunday, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on his sick bed at the Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, recounted his ordeal: “The first time they came to our lodge, the robbers met me at the gate and told me to lie down. I discovered that they were armed with cutlasses and guns. I ran back to the building and alerted my colleagues. We scaled the fence to escape but others who were caught by the robbers were asked to lead them to our rooms. They made away with our phones, money and other valuables.
“I was praying about 1am when the second attack happened. They broke in through the building’s back door and came into the parlour. They shot me on the thighs to incapacitate me. Immediately they did that, they went into the rooms and packed our belongings, including laptops, phones and money. As the robbers were leaving, they pointed a torchlight at me to know if I was dead. So I seized my breath, pretending to be dead. It was when they left that the Corps members came out from the bush and called the principal, who in turn alerted the village head.”
Sunday, who was the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), said his thighs were shattered with bullets. His left thighs was operated.
He said: “The bullets shattered my two legs. Doctors have removed some of the bullets from my left thigh but they said they could not perform an operation on the right thigh. They said the bullets will come out with time. But as I talk to you, the pain is becoming unbearable. I have been abandoned by the community and the state Directorate of the NYSC. After a visit by the NYSC officials, they stopped picking my calls. I wrote severally to Mrs Iyang Bassey Ekpe, the state director, she did not deem it fit to reply to my letters. I wonder why I participated in the Youth Service in the first place.”
Sunday said he would be transferred to the General Hospital in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for further medical attention.
Comrade Obi, who described the ex-Corps member as dutiful, said Sunday would not be abandoned by the community. He said: “We have been doing our best to ensure that adequate attention and treatment are given to Corper Sunday, because he did very well in service of the school. He is dutiful and dedicated to his task. In fact, the students and teachers are feeling his absence even though he will not return to the school. The former Commissioner for Education, Dr Uju Okeke, and other state officials visited him in the hospital and they are lending a helping hand to make sure that he is back on his feet.”
Dr Okeke said government had released N1 million for Sunday’s treatment. “As soon as the money is ready, Sunday would be contacted to get the cash,” she said.
When contacted, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he was not aware of the incident, promising to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mgbakwu Police Station for confirmation. “I will ask the DPO to find out if this is the true,” he said.
