By Iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Denis Timothy was shot on 29th June by the Nigerian Army personnel sent to calm protesting youth at Command Junction in Kaduna. The youth were protesting the killing of their brother, by an army officer attached to Command Secondary School, Kaduna.
Mr. Timothy is currently paralyzed from waist down, as a result of the gun shot, and is confined to a wheelchair.
29-year-old Timothy is a graduate of Kaduna State University (KASU), where he obtained a BSc in accountancy. Having served the country for one year under the mandatory graduates’ National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in Cross River State, he was before the incidence enrolled by Nigerian Government in its N-Power Youth Empowerment scheme, and posted to teach at a public Primary School in Kakuri neighbourhood of Kaduna.
On that fateful day, Timothy was on his way home, when he sighted a crowd at the popular Command Junction Total Filing station, opposite the Command Secondary School.
As he moves towards the direction, he suddenly, noticed the crowd running towards his direction and was left with no option than to also run for his dear life. He suddenly fell down, and then realised he was shot by a bullet and was in a pool of his blood.
He told journalists, “a good Samaritan picked me up and took me to a house and was later taken to Saint Gerald Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, where I spent three weeks before being referred to 44 Nigeria Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. After attending to me for over two months, the medical team informed me that the bullet is still within my system and I have to do scanning which will cost me N180,000, but unfortunately my family cannot raise the money, because they have virtually sold everything for me to stay alive.
“Since I came back from the hospital, I cannot pass out urine unless with the help of uretic Catheter (tube) and when I defecate, someone helps to clean me up. Life has not been the same for me since then. I was a young man full of hope for better things before that black 9th June, 2017, when my life was turned around.
“The painful aspect of it is that the soldier who shot me never showed any remorse. When my senior brother wrote a letter to General Officer Commanding, 1 Division of Nigeria Army, Kaduna, there was no response. And when my brother visited the Headquarters, an army officer asked him how is he sure that the bullet that hit his brother was fired by an army personnel, and therefore sent him away and warned him never to set foot on the headquarters again.
“I am dying gradually, whereas those who put me in this situation do not care. God knows I was returning back from my place of assignment. I was not a part of the protesters, but look at where I find myself. Somebody should help me, especially President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai. I don’t want to die from a sin I did not commit,” he lamented.
Brother of the victim, Nicholas Timothy, confirmed been threatened by a military officer at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army 1 Division Kaduna, when he went to table a complaint to the army.
He told AFRICA PRIME NEWS, “it is true that they threatened me and asked me never to return again”.
“He is not able to do anything, he doesn’t go to work, he can’t even walk you need to see him, he is just helpless. As I speak with you now, he wants to excrete, but he is finding it difficult. We don’t even have money to buy gloves that will be used in cleaning him and the faeces.
“What we want is justice, let the military take responsibility and foot his medical bill, so he can have his life back,” he said.
Mother of the victim, Mrs. Asabe Timothy, said she has sold everything that is sellable in the house and now the family is moving to put their only property on sale, to see if they can save Denis.
“The day the news came to me, I ran out naked as God created me, because I know my son is a peace loving young man, who will never be involved in any mob action. Please the Army authority and the Presidency should come to our rescue. Let them investigate to find out what happened on the 29th of June, 2017 at Command Secondary School junction, Kaduna. I can assure you that my son, Denis is innocent.
“All the money we spent during his three months stay in 44 Nigeria Army Reference Hospital was donations from friends and relations. And we still paid these monies to the Nigeria Army who shot him and when we could no longer pay the bills, they sent us packing. Somebody should listen to the wailing of a distressed mother, who is seeing her child dying gradually.
“All I am begging the Nigeria Army and the Presidency is to help and give my son a medical attention that will save his life. Nothing more, nothing less,” she said.
When contacted the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Div. Kaduna, Col Kingsley Umoh, said he just landed at the Lagos airport on his way for an assignment and promised to call back. But at the time of filing in this report he has not called back.
Below is a snippet of sms conversation between him and Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna state Council.
