The Nation Newspaper

Tag: death

  • Kogi: Yet another salary-related death

    SIR: Midday, Sunday, November 5, another victim was added to the long list of casualties of the non-payment of salaries by Kogi State government. The addition, Zacchaeus Akinola Maliki, a highly committed civil servant, until his death worked with the Kogi State Local Government Pension Board. He was owed over 22 months in salary arrears before he died – an act which made it difficult for him to access medication early enough for the phenomenon that eventually shut up the entire lung.

    After struggling without success to buy some of the drugs prescribed for his ailment, he opted for the local herbs which were, by far, relatively cheap. All through his ordeal as an unpaid worker, he depended on siblings, well-wishers and friends to survive. When his condition became worse, his family members were informed and he was immediately taken to Kabba Specialist Hospital, where they spent fortunes on tests and medical examinations.

    After weeks in the hospital, he was referred to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, in the state capital where it was discovered that one of his lungs was filled with fluid.

    From FMC, Lokoja, he was referred to Specialist Hospital Gwagwalada for further medical examination. The new test revealed a need for another major surgery in the lungs. He died four days after the surgery.

    The most devastating in the entire scenario is the fact that the family sent an SOS to the state government in the hope that some of his salary arrears would be paid to enable him carry out the surgery in good time. And an emissary of the state government, led by a young lady, visited the family members in the hospital. According to her, the mission of her team was to confirm that Akinola Maliki was a genuine worker of Kogi State government. She promised to come back but they never did. And so he languished on hospital bed at FMC Lokoja, for additional three months after their visit.

    And now, he is dead without being given an opportunity to be screened as his parastatal was totally excluded from the screening exercise. Hundreds of his colleagues in the pension board are wallowing in pain and hunger and Kogi State government appears to be watching patiently to see them die one after the other.

     

    • Moses Abiodun Maliki,

    Abuja.

  • Trips to death

    •Govts should make home conducive to discourage Nigerians from desperate search for ‘better life’ outside

    The report of 26 young girls, aged between 14 and 18 years, who died while trying to illegally migrate to Europe on dingy boats across the Mediterranean Sea, reflects the state of anomie at home. To the shame of our country, many misguided young Nigerians over the years have died off the coast of Libya, after leaving our blighted country in search of the proverbial greener pasture.

    In what apes a historical irony, these youngsters desperately pay huge resources to buy their way into modern slavery. Unfortunately, many of them, instead of gaining passage into slavery, harvest death in the turbulent waters of the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. Disillusioned at home, and disorientated with false information of an El Dorado, they embark on desperate journey to untimely deaths.

    The desperadoes, who survived the arduous journey across the Sahara desert, routinely get picked up after a shipwreck, and deported back to where they originated. Those who die in the desert become food for the hyenas and the jackals, while those who die on the sea, are usually thrown overboard as food for the sharks. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman, Marco Rotunno, the 26 girls were involved in a shipwreck off Libya.

    Rotunno said 23 of the dead were being transported on a rubber boat with 64 other people. The bodies were transported in the refrigerated section of the Italian warship, with 375 survivors. According to the Italian La Repubblica, most of the survivors were from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan. Among them were 90 women – eight of them pregnant – and 52 children, in company of Libyan men and women.

    The BBC reported: “People-smuggling gangs charge each migrant about $6,000 (£4,578) to get to Italy, $4,000 of which is for the trans-Saharan journey to Libya, according to the Italian aid group L’Abbraccio. Many migrants have reported violence, including torture and sexual abuse by the gangs.” At the conversion rate of N360 per dollar, each Nigerian migrant may have paid over N2 million to embark on this dangerous journey.

    While we condemn without equivocation the criminal gangs who run this racket, and the young Nigerians and their compatriots across sub-Sahara countries who hand their souls to the villains, we urge the leaders of our country and other concerned countries to ponder the human tragedy they preside over. With most of the countries mentioned destroyed by corrupt and inept leadership, their citizens see no future and are willing to die trying to escape.

    We also condemn the near silent official reaction to this national embarrassment. But for a terse statement credited to Abike Dabiri-Erewa saying that the government will next year come up with a policy to discourage the immigrants, there is no strong official protest.

    We however welcome the statement by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons calling for “a high level investigation by the United Nations (into) this incident and others before it along the Mediterranean region”. It added: “We need to know the identities of the owners of the rickety boats that carry people along that axis as well as their owners, so they can be prosecuted.” We also commend Italy for promptly prosecuting two men, Al Mabrouc Harar and Mohamed Al Bouzid, over the deaths of the Nigerians.

    We urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strongly protest this callous and illegal trade by Libyans. While it should take steps to discourage the ill-fated travels, it should insist on knowing what the Libyan government is doing to stop the smuggling gangs. Even as the government bears responsibility for the blighted environment, it should not shy away  from protecting the rights of her citizens, even outside the country.

    The ultimate solution lies in purposeful governance, so as to restore the dignity of Nigerians. If there are jobs and prospects of a quality life in the country, the 26 women would not have embarked on the suicide trip.

  • Woman arraigned for allegedly stabbing neighbour to death

    A woman, Stella David, has been arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly stabbing her neighbour Mrs Stella Ola to death.

    The incident happened at their 59, Ojora Street, Ajegunle, Lagos residence.

    David was arraigned before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi on a one count charge of murder by the prosecutor, Mr Bukola Akoni.

    The charge stated: “that you Stella David conspired to kill Mrs Stella Ola at your residence,  59 Ojora Street Ajegunle,  Lagos thereby committing murder contrary to section 203 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count charge preferred against her by the state.

    The prosecutor told the court that  the defendant  and the deceased were not on speaking terms before the incident.

    But the defendant, in her narration insisted that she did not kill her neighbour.

    Under examination by the prosecutor, the defendant said that the incident occurred on Saturday June 22, 2017.

    According to her narration, “I was boiling water to make eba for my mother who went to church and was to come back in the evening.

    “When the water boiled, I removed the kettle from the fire but unknown to me, the handle of the kettle was already damaged.

    “As I carried the kettle to pour the boiled water inside a bowl,  the handle of the kettle broke and the water spilled on my body and on my neighbour’s visitors that came looking for her.

    “The next thing I knew was that three of them, my neighbour, his wife Stella, and their female visitor,  came in and started quarreling with me.

    “They were trying to strangle me when I picked up something to scare them off me which I didn’t know immediately was a knife and I did not know what happened next.’’

    The defendant said she ran to the police station to make a complaint only to meet  the husband of the deceased there.

    She said that the husband of the deceased there and then pointed to her and told the police that she stabbed his wife at her chest and she died.

    Justice Adebiyi has  adjourned the matter to December 11 for continuation of hearing.

  • Man remanded for allegedly stoning woman to death

    An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State yesterday remanded a 51-year-old man, Preston Ogilo, in prison for allegedly stoning a woman, Lynda, to death.

    Ogilo, of no fixed address, is facing a charge of murder.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. A. F. Ojelade, ordered that the accused be remanded, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Ojelade adjourned the case till December 1, for mention.

    The prosecutor, Rosemary Samson, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 11, about 2:30 pm, in front of Winners’ Chapel, Idiroko Road, Ota.

    Samson alleged that the accused killed Lynda, by stoning her to death.

    She said the offence contravened Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

  • Police confirm death of three robbers

    The police in Bayelsa State yesterday confirmed that the three robbers arrested on October 13, died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

    Spokesman Butswat Asinim identified the deceased as Solomon Atuya, 26; Dickson Ebibatei, 30; Preye Niwanidigha, 30 and Oyinkuro Dakuro Robert, 23.

    He said they died from injuries sustained in a shootout with the police and the beating they received from a mob, who assisted the police in arresting them.

    Asinim said: “On October 13, about 1300hrs, policemen responded to a distress call that armed men in a Honda car robbed people of their N2 million and belongings.

    “The Special Anti-robbery Squad chased the hoodlums and intercepted them on Isaac Boro Expressway.

    “The suspects exchanged gunshots with the team. Others attempted to escape, but were chased by youths and were arrested. They were beaten by a mob.

    “The suspects sustained injuries and were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. One British made pistol, one locally made pistol and a Honda car, registered as EF 66 LSR, were recovered from them.

    “The suspects later died in hospital due to injuries sustained during the shootout.

    “Investigation is on to arrest fleeing suspects.”

  • 12 escape ‘mysterious’ death in Ondo community

    Twelve persons at the weekend escaped death by inhaling dangerous gases from a generator at Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Though the remote cause of the incident could not be ascertained at press time, it was learnt that the victims were in good health before allegedly inhaling a gas from a chemical used in killing mosquitoes.

    Another source said the victims, comprising six men and six women, were said to have inhaled generator fumes in a room.

    They were said to be resting in a building on Okoga Street while mourning one of their relatives by observing a compulsory vigil with his widow, according to a tradition in the coastal community.

    The development was said to have begun around 11.30 p.m when one of the deceased’s relatives, Orimisan Ayedara, was also observing the rites.

    He was said to have suddenly noticed that everybody in the house had become unconscious.

    The man reportedly raised the alarm and ran to a nearby church where a night vigil was ongoing.

    The pastor of the church, Sola Omonojo, with the support of some prayer warriors, reportedly stormed the scene for spiritual assistance.

    It was learnt that as the pastor was reviving some of the victims, two of the church members who accompanied him to the scene, suddenly slumped.

    Sources said the pastor and other sympathisers carried the victims and contacted some policemen at Igbokoda Police Station.

    After marathon prayers, the victims were said to have regained consciousness.

    One of the church members said a vigil was ongoing when somebody rushed in and informed members about the development.

    He said: “Shortly after we received the message, the pastor and other church members went to the home, close to the church, to render assistance to the victims. On getting to the house, 12 persons were met unconscious and we started praying for them.”

    The church member said as the prayers were going on, two church members slumped and were rushed to the church to be revived.

    A resident, Igbekele Aiyelanwa, described the incident as a spiritual attack.

    He recalled that a similar incident had occurred in the same house few years ago in which he claimed five persons died.

    Aiyelanwa said he was surprised when two members of the congregation suddenly became unconscious while trying to revive the victims.

    He said the revival of the victims before the incident was an act of God.

    A victim, Mrs. Omolara Ojulari, described the situation as divine.

    She recalled that she was in good condition when she joined the widow for the ritual vigil, as part of the tradition in the area.

    Ojulari said she suddenly became unconscious and slumped, thanking God for bringing her back to life.

  • Dealing with death, grief and bereavement (II)

    Last week, we discussed how to deal with loss of a loved one: be it family member or a friend. Ironically, the work of a medical doctor extends beyond caring for the living.  In this present article, let us consider you. We will consider how you can deal with and prepare for your own death. Stop deceiving yourself: death is inevitable. The best approach is to prepare for it without getting anxious.

    Preparing for death, ironically starts far from before you were ever conceived at a time when your parents had not even met.  This is so because what a person is today, some of the illness he or she suffers from predates his birth. Such genetic/inheritable illnesses that may bring premature death had been in existent in the potential parents before they even met to conceive you, the reader of this article. Some illnesses that cut life short, happen at the time of conception or during pregnancy, childbirth (like birth asphyxia) or during early childhood. Yet, some illnesses like allergy due to pollution are acquired as we grow. Also some diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases happen to us as we interact with others. Other infirmities such as obesity and hypertension are brought upon us by our own acts by the way we have lived our lives.  Thus, you are in some ways, responsible for your own death and the diseases that brought the death upon you, sooner or later.

    Thus, the very essence of the numerous healthcare articles that I have written on these pages are meant to help us prevent death and to prolong life. In spite of these, death is certain.

    Get Your House in Order

    Death will, ultimately, come and it does so when a key part (such as brain, heart, kidney and so forth) of a human being breaks down beyond certain limit, irretrievably. Recall that human being is simply, like computer, an assembly of different organs that when joined together, they form a functioning unit. Such individual organs cannot stand alone nor function alone.  Some people are so afraid of death, so much that they become hostage to death. They develop anxiety, suffer from panic or fear, and avoid funerals because of phobia for death.  They are gripped with trepidation at the thought of and at the mention of death. Some even get depressed upon reflection on death following the demise of others.

    How Then Do You Prepare For Death?

    • Have the psychological mind-set that someday at unknown place and at an unpredictable time, life will end.
    • Have the belief that death is unavoidable debt that you must pay.
    • At any given time, ensure you have a written will and testament in place as to how your materials or estate, will be distributed. The will and testament will set out how your legacy will be protected after you have left the earth.
    • If we have the grace of living into old age, prepare your children and family on how to handle things after you as well as to how to handle your demise. You may also do the preparation as you go on in life notwithstanding growing into old age or not. This approach lessens the pain on your loved ones.
    1. Our various cultures and religious doctrines help us alleviate the effect and thought of death. In some cases, a shared belief in going to a rosy, better-than-earth place following death may cushion the trauma of death.
    • A conscious believe that you have lived a good life or at least that you have tried your very best whilst being alive may also lessen the pain of future death.
    • You may also give specific instruction in your will, as to what to do with your body. Such instructions may be that your body should be subjected to autopsy in case of suspicious death (see earlier articles on coroner death). Further instruction may be as to where you should be buried and who may or may not attend your funeral.

    That said, the object of these write-ups is to postpone death though eventually, the inevitable will happen. Heeding sound advice on nutrition, living in healthy environment free from pollution, being careful to avoid infections, accidents, doing regular medical check-ups, engaging in structured exercises and maintaining good mental health with good sleep will  help us prolong our lives.  On the other hand, avoiding the certainty of end-of-life without adequate preparation ahead is a recipe for disaster as well as leaving a legacy of grief for the living that are left behind.

    If all that I have written does not work for you and you are afraid of the future, you may require some assistance. In that case, kindly endeavour to see a competent counsellor or a medical doctor in this regard.

  • Dealing with death, grief and bereavement (1)

    Dealing with death, grief and bereavement (1)

    There are some events that are certain to happen to us all, regardless of our social status, financial might, political or professional positions or place of birth. Those events have no regard for gender, age, colour of the skin or geographical location. Anyone who is born is surely going to die with very rare Scriptural exceptions. In most cases, birth of a person, brings joy to the family.  Death which is cessation of life or which may also be defined as being cut-off from continuing, on the other hand, will bring sadness or grief and sense of loss that comes with it (bereavement).

    Death will come to every one of us and we will experience the loss of loved ones, relatives or friends at some point in our lives. In the end, each of us will also die.

    Being born and dying or experiencing death are two opposite life events: however, one is a continuation of the other.  In this article, I will be dealing with death and the trail of illnesses that death afflicts on those that are left behind to live on.  My agenda in this article is to help us deal with aftermath of death and indeed to help us prepare for death. In the next article, we will discuss how to deal with your own death.

    The way each of us handles our losses are different and our differences are also influenced by how we were brought up, our culture, and our religious beliefs about life and death as well as our personal experiences in life.  Some persons fear dying while others are not. Some may also be apprehensive about likelihood of losing a friend or a member of family.

    Some individuals may be stoic and unmoved about death while other persons may be severely affected to the point of developing anxiety, depression, loneliness and frank mental illness of psychosis. Yet, there may be complex material issues that the deceased had left behind unresolved or promises that he or she may had made that by now will disappear into the vacuum. All these may converge to result into serious clinical matters.

    Also, in our culture, while the death of an elderly is often sometimes expected and celebrated for “a life well lived”, the passing of a younger individual brings with it sadness and intense bereavement. Regardless of age therefore, the loss of loved ones—young or old, always bring sadness.

    Consequences of Prolonged Grieving

    No matter how much a person grieves, it will not bring back the dead. In the extreme, the grieving person may suffer a depressive illness or other physical health deterioration. However, it’s better to treasure the memory of the dead and not the pain of the loss.

    For most people, grieving for a person who died would be short-timed and reasonable, considering the pull to satisfy the daily needs of life that may be staring at us in the face.  Life must continue. We may therefore not be able to stay away from productive activities for long. Clinically, doctors expect bereaved persons to grieve for about two weeks. Depending on the culture and religion, this phase of grieving can also last up to forty days, less or more.  Active or subliminal grieving that goes to three months and beyond is surely a sign that a disease state of depression had set in.  Such individuals may appear unkempt, losing his or her allure, appearing to suffer from low energy, uninterested in life activities, unable to sleep, suffering from poor appetite, concentration may be poor and can appear to have memory loss. He or she may be appearing sad and failing in academic or productive economic work.  The bereaved may become easily irritable and or short temper. The personality may change totally.  Physically, the individual may lose weight or over eat with resulting weight gain.  Self-isolation and sense of loneliness could prevail on the person or persons concerned. Children can withdraw into his or her own world in self-isolation. While to the outside world, the depressed person appears unwell, such individual may be in denial of the obvious.

    Should these unfortunate clinical situations occur, a speedy visit to a qualified medical doctor for assessment is called for before further deterioration occurs.

  • HIV not death sentence, says LSACA chief

    HIV is no longer a death sentence if the person eats well and routinely takes the prescribed drugs. Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, has said.

    He spoke at the kick-off of the Health Initiative Programme for rural dwellers in Poka, Eredo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

    It was organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and supported by the wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

    According to Temowo, it will be a ‘crime’ for anybody to die of HIV/AIDS in the state because the government has put in place various measures to check the spread, treatment and eradication of the disease from the state by year 2030.

    He said with the support given to the agency by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a full-scale HIV testing services, to align with the global initiative of 90-90-90,  has begun across the state.

    He explained that by 2020, 90 per cent of the people would have known their HIV status and 90 per cent of those that know their status would be able to access Anti-retroval Treatment (ART), while those accessing ART would have suppressed viral load and would not be able to infect others.

    “Therefore, ‘by 2030 in Lagos, we would have been able to eradicate HIV/AIDS. The agency trucks for on-the-go HIV services are moving to the nooks and crannies of the state to conduct free HIV testing services. This is in addition to the residents being able to access free HIV Counseling and Testing Services across the government hospitals in the state,”he said.

    Thanking the National Youth Service Corps members for the programme, Mrs. Ambode enjoined every resident of Poka and Epe to come out  to access the free medical outreach in the environment.

    Present on the occasion were Alara of Ilora Oba Akanmu Okunola Adesanya; Oba of Noforija, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja; and Oba of Poka, Oba Aileri.

  • Death & The King’s Horseman hits Lagos

    Death & The King’s Horseman hits Lagos

    Wole Soyinka’s classic, ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’, will be on stage tomorrow at the Terra Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Directed by Bisi Adigun, the presentation is produced by Arambe Productions, with support from management of Terra Kulture, owners of the theatre facility.

    Described as Soyinka’s “best illustration of the ritual theatre paradigm” by the foremost theatre scholar, Joel Adedeji (2005), the Sallah holiday run of the play, will feature a top-range cast and crew that includes Toyin Oshinaike, Tunji Sotiminrin, Bukky Ogunnote, Tunde Onikoyi, Wale Lampejo and others.

    Based on a real life tragic event, the play is set in Oyo during the Second World War, when Nigeria was still a British colony. The king has died and as his horseman commences the traditional ritual that will ensure the smooth transition of the dead king to the world beyond, the British colonial officer intervenes. In consequence, the harmonious co-existence between the living, the dead and the unborn is under severe threat.

    Will the turn of events cause a disruption of a cosmic order of the universe? Will justice be served?

    The answer will be provided at the Sallah holiday presentation, during which audiences will be entranced by the songs, music, chants, humour and the ’totality’ of Soyinka’s dramaturgy, as well as his linguistic dexterity. The play had earlier been staged to wide acclaim in July at the University of Lagos to mark the 83rd birthday anniversary celebration of the author, Soyinka, the 1986 Nobel laureate for Literature.

    Eid el Kabir, also called the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, is the festive period during which Muslims all over the world celebrate to honour Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son in submission to God’s command before God intervened by providing him with a ram to sacrifice in place of his son.