Tobias Sylvester
A 13-year old girl identified as Treasure Osiobe, who was allegedly raped to coma by her stepfather, Sunday Ojo, have cried out for help to clear her remaining medical bill of N1 million at Lily Hospital, Warri, Delta State.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Treasure narrated how she was beaten, drowned in a bucket of water and raped by her stepfather on October 16, 2019 in a place called White House, Jakpa Road, Effurun. She said:
“On that fateful day, after the incident, I was told I passed out, my lifeless body was found in the house before I was rushed to the hospital but could not be resuscitated.
“The medical personnel fixed an oxygen on me and was referred to Lily Hospital in Warri where I regained consciousness after seven days in coma.
“Since then, I have been receiving treatment at the Lily Hospital.
“We were billed N1.8m by the hospital management and my family has been able to raise N800,000 but the bill still remains N1m.
“I am appealing to Nigerians, government, NGOs to come to my aid by offsetting the N1m so that I can leave the hospital and go home and return to school.”
Mrs Ojo, the girl’s mother who spoke to newsmen her mother on Friday, December 20, 2019, said that the girl would not be released unless the money is paid.
The distraught mother of the girl said: “We have been in the hospital for two months and some days now.
The money is still the same. We have a million naira left to pay. People have promised but I have not heard anything from them. My daughter cries everyday that she wants to go home.
“I am appealing to the president, governor, well meaning Nigerians. I just need them to come and help us to get out of here and probably get another accommodation. Because when I leave here, I cannot go back to that house again.
“The three of us, including my three-year old daughter have been living here in the hospital. I am an orphan, my eldest sister is in Lagos, the others are younger to me. They have all been supporting and they raised the money to what we have now.”
In her emotional appeal for financial support, the girl said:
“I really want to leave this hospital. I don’t want to celebrate Christmas in the hospital and I don’t want the New Year to meet me here. I want to be able to go back to school by January.”
Confirming the development, the Delta State Police Command explained that culprit had not been arrested, stating, “we are yet to arrest the man.”
