Nearly two months after a devastating gas explosion at a Filling Station in the Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar South Local Government Area, the father of a seven-year-old survivor has cried out over what he described as abandonment and the crushing financial burden of his daughter’s treatment.

The victim, Happiness Ekere, suffered severe burns in the March 20 explosion and has remained on admission at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, where doctors continue efforts to save her life.

Her father, Mr. Anietie Ekere, said the family has been left to battle the situation alone, alleging that neither the filling station management nor its owner has reached out to them since the incident occurred.

Speaking emotionally with journalists, Ekere said he has struggled daily to meet the growing medical demands required for his daughter’s treatment.

According to him, doctors frequently ask the family to purchase drugs and medical supplies outside the hospital, expenses he said have become overwhelming for him as a casual labourer surviving on irregular income.

“Some days I spend close to N10,000 just on medication alone,” he said. 

“That does not even include transportation or feeding. I am only trying my best to keep my daughter alive.”

He disclosed that Happiness recently underwent surgery, while doctors have reportedly informed the family that another major procedure may cost over N1 million.

The grieving father said the situation has become even more painful following the death of his 15-year-old son, Solomon Ekere, who also sustained injuries in the explosion and later died about a week after the incident.

“My daughter is still struggling to stand or walk properly,” he said. “I don’t know where the money will come from anymore. I just pray she survives.”

A member of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, and a volunteer support group assisting the family, said sympathisers have already spent close to N1 million on drugs, tests and wound management since the incident happened.

The source, who requested anonymity, explained that many prescribed medications were unavailable within the hospital and had to be sourced from private pharmacies.

According to the volunteer, some injections cost as much as N13,000, while routine wound dressing expenses could rise to about N15,000.

The source, however, acknowledged that the Cross River State Government had intervened in aspects of the surgery and certain hospital procedures, though most daily treatment expenses were still being handled by volunteers and the family.

Ekere has now appealed to the Cross River State Government, public-spirited individuals and humanitarian organisations to urgently come to the aid of his daughter.

“All I want is for my child to live,” he pleaded. “I cannot bear losing another child.”

There are reports suggesting that about two days ago, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, distributed food palliatives and other supports originally meant for the victims of the gas explosion in Calabar but  most beneficiaries were not persons affected by the incident.

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead and 10 others severely injured in a fatal road accident that occurred on Thursday at Iyana Egbado along the Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway.

The lone crash involving a white Mazda E2000 bus with registration number KRD809XC, carrying a total of 20 passengers, happened at about 11:12 a.m.

According to the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Odunsi Afolabi, the passengers comprised of six adult males, eleven adult females, one male child, and two female children.

Afolabi stated that two children, one man and two women were killed in the crash while 10 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries with five others left unhurt.

“The crash occurred at about 11:12 am and was reported at 1115HRS. FRSC rescue operatives from RS2.28 Itori Unit Command arrived at the scene at 1120HRS, with a response time of five minutes.

“Out of the twenty persons involved, five persons were killed, comprising one adult male, two adult females, one male child, and one female child. Ten persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while five persons escaped unhurt,” the statement said. 

Afolabi ascribed the cause of the crash to excessive speed and overloading, adding that the injured victims were rushed to General Hospital, Ifo, and Oreofe Specialist Hospital, Itori, for prompt medical attention, while the corpses of the deceased victims were deposited at the General Hospital Morgue, Ifo.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the probable causes of the crash were speeding and overloading. The road was paved and weather condition at the time of the incident was cloudy,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathized with the families of the victims and urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, and all forms of traffic violations capable of endangering lives.

Ogunjobi also advised drivers to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations, especially during this festive period, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility.

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the killing of an unidentified man i

n a suspected cult clash in Ede town.
Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday.

He also revealed that investigation into the incident had commenced.

“Suspected cultists had a clash on Tuesday, and one person was killed. Investigation is ongoing,” Ojelabi said.

DAILY POST gathered that two undergraduates were reportedly killed in a suspected cult-related attack in the Ede area of Osun State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday night at an off-campus apartment occupied by the students.

Sources said about six students were attacked when suspected cultists allegedly stormed the residence and assaulted them with dangerous weapons.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the incident was linked to an ongoing rivalry between cult groups in the area.

“The attack occurred in the night. The students were in their room when some cultists who were on a revenge mission forced their way into the apartment and started attacking them with dangerous weapons.

“The students sustained varying degrees of injuries, and two later succumbed to their injuries,” the source said.

The source further disclosed that other injured victims were receiving treatment at a hospital.

It was reported that the clash was between members of the Aye and Buccaneer confraternities.