NAF Denies Demanding Police Report from Accident Victims Who Died after They Were Refused Treatment

Ololade Adeyanju & NAN/

The Nigerian Air Force has described a post on Twitter alleging that it refused medical attention to two accident victims rushed to its hospital in Jos, as “gross misrepresentation of facts’.’

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, denied the report in a statement in Abuja.

Daramola added that the post alleged that the victims, who were brought to the hospital on Sunday, were denied medical care because of the absence of Police report.

He stated: “While we sympathise with the friends and loved ones of the victims on their unfortunate loss, the NAF wishes to state categorically that the facts presented in the report were inaccurate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the public is kindly informed that the two patients were indeed rushed to the 563 NAF hospital as reported.

“However, they were brought in by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps hence, the issue of requesting for a Police report never arose.

“Besides, in keeping with the Hippocratic Oath, all NAF Hospitals have a standing instruction to stabilise and, where possible, treat all accident victims without asking for payment or police report.

“In this particular case, information at our disposal indicates that one of the victims was brought in dead, while the other victim had evidence of severe head injury, which the Hospital did not have the capacity to handle.

“Accordingly, the immediate caregivers were promptly advised to move the surviving victim to the Jos University Teaching Hospital or the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, for further treatment.

“At no time throughout their stay at the hospital was any police report demanded.

“The NAF, as a highly disciplined and professional force, has standard procedures in dealing with such cases.

“A Police report is seldom required as the NAF Air Provost are empowered to handle such cases within NAF Bases and liaise with the Nigeria Police Force, where required.

“The NAF once more sympathises with the families of the victims.

“However, we wish to advise the public to please discountenance the portion of the Tweet thread that referred to a demand for Police report as a prerequisite for treatment as it is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.’’

Twitter user, Othniel Anslem, yesterday alleged that the police are trying to release the suspected killer of his younger sister, Jemima and a friend of hers, Jennifer who were involved in a road accident on their way to church in Jos had died after they refused treatment at 347 Nigerian Airforce Hospital for not presenting a police report.

His tweet says: “My younger sister: Jemima, was involved in a road accident on her way to church, on Sunday morning.

“She was in her sophomore year at the University of Jos, Nigeria: studying Statistics. Her friend: Jennifer, who she commuted with, was in her final year.

“What was supposed to be a harmless journey in a tricycle, turned out to be a tragedy when some drunk guy driving a BMW, left his lane, climbed the road barricade, hit the ‘Keke’ my sister and her friend travelled in, and somersaulted three times.

“The drunk driver whose birthday was on Sunday confessed to being drunk after celebrating overnight. He survived the accident.

“The Keke driver died on the spot. Sissy and her friend were still alive, and hence, rushed to the nearby hospital: 347 Nigerian Airforce Hospital, 303 Rayfield Road, Naf Station on Bauchi-Jos Expressway.

“This hospital rejected both of them. Stupid mofos wanted a Police Report, before taking them in.

“From there, they were rushed to another hospital, but before any medical help could be given, Jemima and Jennifer had died.

“Worse still, the police are currently attempting to grant the murderer of three people, bail.

“My sister, her friend and the tricycle driver, were casualties of the reckless driving of a stoned driver.

“Jemima and Jennifer died as a result of a failed medical system and idiotic medical law passed only by a failed country. Nigeria.

“And their murderer may go Scott-free because of corruption within the police force.

“All I want is justice. I owe my sister that much.”

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