A 12-year-old boy was struck in the eye by a stray bullet that pierced through the roof of his grandmother's home in Agege, Lagos. The dinner plans of 70-year-old Madam Victoria Akinwande were disrupted when the unexpected projectile landed in her kitchen, leaving her grandson Adewale Akinwande seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on July 26th as Adewale was assisting his grandmother with cooking. Suddenly, a loud bang was heard as the bullet penetrated the roof, striking the young boy in his left eye. Madam Akinwande, distraught, immediately rushed Adewale to a nearby pharmacy for first aid, but he was turned away as the injury was beyond their capabilities.
The family then rushed Adewale to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, where doctors confirmed that the strange object lodged in his eye was indeed a bullet. A spokesperson for the family, Alhaja Risikat Akala, expressed the family's shock and confusion over the origin of the stray bullet.
"We initially thought it was a stone thrown by someone that hit him, not knowing that it was something worse than we thought after doctors ran tests on him and confirmed the strange object to be a bullet," Akala said.
The incident was promptly reported to the Abattoir Police Division, and detectives have visited the scene and the hospital to investigate the matter. However, the police's account has been disputed by the family, who insist that the bullet was fired from an unknown source and struck Adewale in his own home.
Doctors at LASUTH have stated that Adewale's case is a delicate one, requiring a team of specialized surgeons to remove the bullet and treat the injury. The family, however, is faced with the daunting task of raising the estimated 3 million naira needed for the life-saving surgery, as Adewale's father is currently ill, and his mother had abandoned the family.
Appealing for public assistance, the family has opened an Ecobank account (3510099310) under the name "Akinwande Adewale Julius" to receive donations from well-meaning Nigerians. The spokesperson, Alhaja Risikat Akala, can also be contacted on 08055250234 for further inquiries.
This tragic incident has left the family in a desperate situation, with the young Adewale's life hanging in the balance. The community and the public are called upon to come to the aid of this distraught family and help them secure the necessary funds for Adewale's critical surgery.