An armed robbery victim, Friday Ajabor, recounts how Divisional Police Officer, Celestina Kalu, of Ogudu Division, Lagos State Police Command saved his life recently
Why did you have to struggle with armed robbers, even at gunpoint?
I never knew the robbers were armed. Initially they begged my friend, Favour, and I for money when we were having a conversation at the Abiola Garden, around 8pm on Thursday, September 19, 2019. But I told them we had no money and they went away. All of a sudden, they returned and attacked us. They wanted Favour’s cell phone and the money in my pocket. As I tried to defend myself, they shot me in the stomach and ran away. Favour also abandoned me on the floor and ran away. I haven’t seen her since that night.
What happened after you were shot?
I was just lying on the ground, bleeding and begging some security men around the place for help. After about 30 minutes, the police arrived and asked what happened. I managed to explain to them. They took me in their patrol van to a hospital. I was denied admission in the first two hospitals, but when I saw the DPO at LASUTH, I started begging her to help me. I didn’t want to die.
I was crying when I told the DPO not to leave me. She took pity on me and told the doctors to attend to me. I think they were not willing to attend to me. I guess they wanted the DPO to pay some money before commencing the treatment. And she did everything possible to ensure that I was treated.
I spent between two weeks and three days at the hospital. I never believed that I would be alive today. The first nine days were very challenging for me. I could neither eat nor drink water during that period. It was much later that they started giving me water. It has not been easy, but I thank God that the surgery was successful. Although I still go to the hospital for medical checkups, I am grateful to be alive.
How would you describe the DPO’s action?
The DPO is the angel that God sent to save my life. I am grateful to her. What she did for me is what a mother can only do for her own child. I love her for this.
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