I saw the person who shot the stray bullet- Gombe Barber
Friday November 5th 2021 will remain indelible to alot of Gombe residents especially the Obadiah’s. 18- year -old Reuben shares his narrow death experience with correspondent Chima Azubuike, at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe where he is currently recuperating.
What is your name? I’m Reuben Obadiah
Where are you from? I’m an indigene of Gombe State
How old are you? I’m 18 years old
What do you do for a living? I’m just a barber.
What is your academic background?
Well, I’m still a student, I just finished my secondary school this year. I attended Gombe Science Secondary School Billiri.
What is your future ambition? I want to become a medical doctor.
Why the choice of doctor? I have that ambition since my young stage. I have nursed it all through my secondary school stage.
What happened to you? I was just cutting hair in the shop, I didn’t know anything I just heard the sound of gun shot, when I heard the sound again it landed on my tigh. It now dawned on me that I have been wounded, immediately people began to run out of the entire place. I thought I could run but just couldn’t lift my leg, I managed to small extent to run but it didn’t continue for a long time, I fell down on my knee.
The person that shot the stray bullet, did you see him?
Yes, I was able to spot him.
Around what time was this? It was around the evening time, I can’t really remember the exact time.
Were you aware of the mayhem in the afternoon? No, I didn’t even know there was crisis in the afternoon. If I knew there wouldn’t have been a need to come out. It was later I heard that after the afternoon mayhem groups engaged in free fight.
So after you attempted to run and you couldn’t, what happened? It was the point I was on the floor that I told some of them that I have a gun shot wound, since the crowd have mixed with people coming from different directions. At first they were afraid to come close to me as everyone was scared for their lives. Suddenly, one or two persons within the scampering crowd realised that I usually cut their hair as a Barber, that was my saving grace. They picked me up and immediately rushed me to State Specialist Hospital Gombe to receive treatment.
At this point were you still conscious?
Yes, I remained conscious all through, just that blood was flowing out since the gun fire landed on my tigh.
What happened to you at the State Specialist Hospital and how come you are now here at Federal Teaching Hospital?
I was initially taken to the emergency ward of the State Specialist. I spent just one day there, just a night from Friday to Saturday. The nurses dressed the gun wound in expectation for the medical doctor for onward treatment but unfortunately the doctor did not arrive soon. Some persons I can’t confirm their designation said we must do x-ray. We later heard that the State Specialist x-ray is not functioning well and when they checked the x-ray point on Saturday the handlers were not around yet to begin work. It was at that moment that I was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe for the x-ray.
So, you left specialist to Federal Teaching just for x-ray?
When we got here immediately the we were subjected to the x-ray to determine the extent of the bullet but after it was conducted here I had to return back to State Specialist Hospital to continue treatment. When we got Specialist we learnt I need to see an Orthopedic doctor, the one in charge of bones because the x-ray confirmed I sustained a fracture. They claimed at Specialist that the doctor responsible for it is on leave then I was referred to this place Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe for the treatment.
How much have you spent so far, who is responsible for your treatment here? There was someone else who was involved in the afternoon mayhem, they said government will retain us. They did the entire processes by collecting retainment from Government House and they now referred the two of us here. So, government is taking care of our expenses. I like to use this medium to appreciate the governor of Gombe State Muhammadu Yahaya for ensuring I get this medical assistance. I owe my survival during the attack from the stray bullet to God and to them (government). For taking the responsibility upon themselves to ensure I recovered.
So what is the condition of your leg, when compared to Friday?
I’m feeling a little bit better but uptil this moment the surgery has not been conducted yet. They are now stretching the leg. Perhaps it would be done any time from now.
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Can you introduce yourself? I’m Obadiah Wariya. I’m from Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. I’m 44 years, the father to Reuben, the one with the bullet wound around his tigh.
What do you do? I’m an environmental health officer, I work with the ministry of environment presently my designation is with GOSEPA.
Where does your family reside? I stay at Barunde.
He claimed he wants to become a medical doctor, are you aware? Yes, he has been saying so, right from young age. I asked him why he said he wants to extend his service to the people of Gombe State as a medical practitioner
How did you hear about the incident? I was at home when my phone rang around 7pm, so he tried to narrate the incident that occurred but I couldn’t hear him properly. Another call came in that they were on their way to Specialist Hospital Gombe that Reuben, was shot with gun.
Was he involved in political rally, why was he caught in the action?
No, he was not infact that same day he has been to church, he operates a barbing shop for his master.
When you finally saw him how was his state? He was conscious, I managed to control my emotion, really I can’t explain how I felt. What I used to console myself is that we should give thanks at all times to God because I believed that my son will recuperate in due time.
Reuben claimed that his expenses have been sorted out by government, how true is that?
I’m very happy I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for ensuring that everyone affected got medical support.
From Specialist Hospital to Federal Teaching Hospital how satisfied are you about the level of treatment? It satisfactory.
