By Sunday Elijah,
An American non-governmental organisation, Equipping the Persecuted (ETP), has paid the hospital bills of 12 victims of the recent attacks on Efeyi and Agadagba communities in Ogboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, north-central Nigeria.
The organisation provided financial assistance to the victims on Sunday during a visit to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, where 14 people injured in the attacks were receiving treatment.
Two of the patients had been discharged before the ETP team arrived, leaving 12 whose medical bills were settled by the organisation.
The intervention was led by ETP representative Mike Odeh James, who handed the financial assistance directly to the affected victims.
The victims sustained injuries including gunshot wounds to the intestines and genitals, as well as deep machete cuts, following the attacks, which survivors have blamed on suspected Fulani ethnic militias.
James said the intervention followed an earlier assessment visit to the hospital, after which ETP founder and executive director Judd Saul directed the organisation to ensure that the victims’ medical bills were paid.
“If you recall, we came here for an assessment following the attacks by suspected Fulani ethnic militia. After seeing the clips of our interview with you, Mr Judd Saul asked that we make sure your hospital bills are settled,” James said.
“The founder of Equipping the Persecuted is also praying that you get well soon,” he added.
The hospital’s Protocol and Public Relations Officer, Onyilokwu Edeh, commended ETP and Saul for supporting the victims.
Edeh said the organisation had provided similar assistance to victims of violent attacks treated at the facility on previous occasions.
“This is almost the third time ETP is coming to this medical facility to offer lifelines to victims of terror attacks,” he said.
“You were here when Otukpo Nobi was attacked; you also helped the victims by giving them financial support. Now you are here again to support the victims of the Efeyi attack. The cash you are giving them will go a long way.”
He thanked Saul and ETP on behalf of the management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
The latest intervention is the second time in three weeks that ETP has provided financial assistance to victims of violent attacks in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The organisation had earlier supported victims of an attack on Otukpo Nobi community.
The Efeyi and neighbouring communities were attacked in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, leaving scores of residents dead and several others injured.
Survivors alleged that security forces did not intervene during the attack.
The incidents have added to continuing concerns over attacks on communities in parts of Benue State, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger protection from security agencies.
