By Michael Nnebife
A female Journalist, Miss Nkoli Ugboma, the Correspondent of Courage Managine, Lagos, and also an online publisher in U-TUBE, who was involved in a road accident with a commercial motor-cyclist, in front of Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, is soliciting for help from well-meaning citizens to offset her hospital bill. The accident took place on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
Fides recalls that the Journalist, in company of some other journalists, had gone for the coverage of an event hosted by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), when the accident happened.
According to Ugboma, ‘There was a commercial bus parked at the opposite side of the hotel, heading to Awka and the driver was off-loading goods for a passenger. We crossed to the side of the bus and waited for the driver to let us into the vehicle for onward return to Awka.
‘As we were waiting by the side of the road, we saw a commercial motorcyclist carrying a passenger and descending the hill with reckless speed. As I saw the reckless driving, I scampered away but the motorcyclist hit my right leg and fractured it and I fell down, knocking my fore-head on the ground. I lost much blood as I lay in the pool of my own blood.’
Her colleagues who also attended the event helped her and rushed her to St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, Adazi, for treatment. They also forced the motorcyclist to ride his motorcycle to the hospital. The following day, Sunday, May 26, two of the journalists reported the case to the Police Headquarters, Neni, in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State.
They came and impounded the motorcycle and kept it in their headquarters at Neni for further investigations.
The Hospital consulted their Specialist Orthopedic Surgeon who performed bone-setting surgery on the accident victim.
When the Specialist Surgeon, Dr. Okafor, was contacted, he said his patient was responding to treatment but said the patient should be given meticulous care, both in medicinal and balanced food for holistic recovery.
‘The cost of treatment, both medicinal and dietary, are exorbitant, and requires interventions from individuals and groups,’ Peter Nwasike, one of the Ugboma’s colleagues, said.
At the time of filing this report, the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Anaocha Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Anthony Ugorji, had been contacted and he expressed regrets about the accident, consenting to visit the victim in hospital.
Ugboma is hoping that other members of the public could rally round her.
