Parents of 2-year-old boy killed by NDLEA official’s stray bullet demand N2bn compensation

The parents of Ivan Omhonria, a two-year-old boy shot and killed by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), are demanding ₦2 billion in compensation from the agency.

Ivan was tragically killed by a stray bullet fired during an NDLEA raid in the Okpanam area of Asaba, Delta State, on July 13, 2023. His younger brother, Eromonsele, was also injured, suffering a gunshot wound to the eye.

The children had just returned from school and were at their mother’s shop when the incident occurred.

Over a year later, the family, led by the father, Fidelis Omhonria, expressed frustration over being abandoned by the NDLEA, claiming that the health of their surviving son, Eromonsele, has deteriorated due to inadequate treatment.

Fidelis and his wife appeared before the House Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday, where they denied agreeing to a ₦25 million settlement with the NDLEA.

The agency’s lawyer, Muniat Adeleye, told the committee that the NDLEA had agreed on a ₦25 million compensation package and had already paid ₦5 million to the family as an initial payment.

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She said the entire sum was to be paid in five tranches spread over five months.

She expressed surprise over the petition adding that the agency did not expect it as the matter had been resolved, with Fidelis and his wife.

However, when asked for the agreement signed for the payment of the N25m compensation, Adeleye, who is the Assistant Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, said it had not been signed.

The Committee did not accept this and demanded that the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.) appear before the Committee at its next hearing on the matter.

The father of the boys denied such agreement, saying the Chairman of the Agency had sometime after the incident, sent him N5m on a personal note.

He accused the agency of blatant refusal to compensate the family, adding that the attitude of the NDLEA forced him to petition the House Committee.

He said, “I was shocked to hear her mention an agreement just now. I’m not a party to any agreement.

“Yes, within the period that this took place, the NDLEA Chairman called me and told me he’s very sorry for this incident that happened on July 13, 2023, and that he’s not in the country. He said that on his commitment, he’s sending the token to me.

“He didn’t mention any amount to me. He said he would send me some money to take care of my son. Two weeks later, we left the Eye Foundation in Lagos. Then I received N5m in my wife’s account that he sent to me. That’s all! So where did the agreement for N25m come in?”

His lawyer, Mathew Edaghese, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We wrote to them, demanded the sum of N2bn as compensation. They never bothered to even respond to that demand. They ignored it with so much arrogance. Before this House Committee, we want adequate compensation. A life was lost, cut short. Another destiny is being damaged because of the eye.

“He was just one year old when this incident happened. From then until now, they’ve been dealing with that. They (NDLEA) are not prepared to do anything to even remedy the physical damage done to this infant boy. It’s like they are playing games and gimmicks to dodge responsibility. We want this House to compel the NDLEA to be responsive and responsible enough as a corporate agency to do what is obtainable in line with best international standard practice.”

The Chairman of the Committee, Mike Etaba, who spoke at the event promised that justice would be served.

Etaba stated, “I hope you appreciate the gravity of what we are saying. As far as the House is concerned, Nigerians are interested in this matter. The whole world is watching us.

“The next day this matter is going to be adjourned, the principal officer, which is your head (Buba Marwa) has to be with this committee. This matter is too serious for anybody to represent him. We also understand that you are a lawyer, and you have a right to represent your organisation. But the point we find ourselves, and the kind of life-threatening events that we find ourselves; we want the NDLEA head to appear in person and explain to Nigerians.

“Since this incident took place, He has taken steps to make sure that this family recovers from the trauma. And as we speak, you can see the child with one eye. You are a mother (Referring to NDLEA’s lawyer). All of us are fathers. Nobody would be alive to see his or her child with this kind of condition.

“The money that has been sent to him was just a help, a token to make sure that he carries on with the little medication he needed to do. So let us not sit here and tell Nigerians that there was an agreement for NDLEA to pay this family N25m. Nobody should hear it. It shouldn’t be heard anywhere.”

The matter was adjourned to October 22, 2024, for continuation of the hearing.

(Punch)