1. Last week on my Facebook page, I published the story of a 13-year-old boy whose hands were severely burnt by his stepmother based on allegations of witchcraft. If you missed it, I'm doing a thread here to share his story and the progress we've made so far.
#JusticeforOvey
#JusticeforOvey
2. 30th October 2019: While browsing the Internet, I stumbled on the story of Ovey Friday. I read a lot of things that upset me. This one struck a different cord. I was deeply infuriated. I remember thinking; this is how urchins, kidnappers and armed robbers are made.
3. In a country where 23+ million able bodied young people with an education and all limbs intact are out of a job, what hope is there for a boy like Ovey with his two hands deformed or amputated? #JusticeforOvey
4. I sent the link to the only person I knew who could follow up on this with the urgency it required – a family friend who also happens to be the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Nasarawa state, Mr. Eche Amos. #JusticeforOvey
5. 1st – 3rd November 2019: As God would have it; the village where it happened was a bike ride away from where Eche lives. He created a post about Ovey and shared it online, asking anyone who could help locate him to reach out. #JusticeforOvey
6. 4th November 2019: He went to the village on a fact-finding mission. These are the highlights of what he found out with help from Police Officer Supol Danjuma and the Traditional Ruler of Wulko Community, His Royal Highness, Joseph Y. Envuladu:
7. Ovey Friday, popularly called Small Man, is a JSS 3 student of Government Secondary School. He is also Class Captain of his class and a Chorister at St. Mary’s Catholic church, all situated in Wulko Community in Nasarawa state. #JusticeforOvey
8. He lost his mother some time back and lives with his stepmother, Mercy Jummai who his father married in August 2019 from a neighbouring village.. His Father is a commercial motorcyclist based in Lagos, Nigeria. #JusticeforOvey
9. Ovey, had before this incident, been suffering untold domestic violence from his stepmother ranging from deprivation of food, battery, hard labour and threats to life. #JusticeforOvey
10. Recently, his stepmother accused him of making love to her in her dream at night. He denied the accusation. She and Ovey's paternal grandmother took him to a native doctor in Lafia on the 28th of October 2019. I summarize the boy’s account of what happened below:
11. The native doctor picked a stone and threw it at me. After that, he rubbed the stone on me and tied my two hands with a rope. Then, he brought burning coals and poured them on my tied hands, asking me to confess to being a wizard and a member of a secret society.
12. He poured ground pepper on the coal with my hands still burning, the smoke choking me. He repeated the process three times. I began to pray. When the native doctor saw me praying, he loosened the rope but by then my wrist, hands and fingers were already severely burnt.
13. The women brought Ovey back home. The following morning, he woke up to see both his hands swollen and filled with pus. On the 29th of October 2019, the Police arrested the stepmother and native doctor but released them without charge a day later. #JusticeforOvey
14. Some members of the community contributed money (N1,300) and gave it to Ovey’s uncle for his medical treatment in Lafia. 5th November 2019: Eche visited the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital. Ovey's maternal relatives had been footing his medical bills...#JusticeforOvey
15. The fire gravely affected Ovey’s hands; he had lost four fingers. The Medical Consultant Eche spoke with said that there is a paucity of funds and his treatment had essentially been palliative. #JusticeforOvey
16. 6th November 2019: Channels TV sent a crew down from Abuja to do a story on Ovey. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bola Alonge, now aware of the case, asked for all the suspects to be rearrested and prosecuted...
17. ...they have been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia, Nasarawa state. November 7-9th: My inbox overflowed with messages from concerned Nigerians. We got enough donations to cover Ovey's medical bills and other ancillary expenses as well.
18. Ovey had been wearing his school uniform since the incident. Eche went shopping for clothes, shoes and provisions for him. While wondering about how I was going to progress Ovey's treatment, I got this message from a friend of mine:
19. Hi Naomi, I've just seen your post about Ovey. Please make sure he gets the best possible care. I'll cover the cost of his care; just make sure he sees a plastic surgeon and an orthopaedic surgeon ASAP...
20. I have a few names if you need a referral. Send me the bill for his care and any surgeries, medication, etc. If you need a down payment to start, let me know and send account details please. God bless you. #JusticeforOvey
21. And just like that, I had a blank cheque to get Ovey the care he desperately needed. Words will never be able to describe the relief I felt.
Ovey made it to the front page of Punch newspapers. Thanks to Punch for doing an extensive feature on his case.
Ovey made it to the front page of Punch newspapers. Thanks to Punch for doing an extensive feature on his case.
22. Based on considerations I can’t go into now, we decided it was best to move Ovey. We asked for a referral letter. Thankfully, we were able to get it on Friday. This was significant because Monday was a public holiday.
23. The Nasarawa State Judiciary got involved in Ovey’s matter.
Against seemingly insurmountable odds, we moved Ovey from Lafia, Nasarawa state. He arrived the emergency room of Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja on the evening of the 9th. #JusticeforOvey
Against seemingly insurmountable odds, we moved Ovey from Lafia, Nasarawa state. He arrived the emergency room of Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja on the evening of the 9th. #JusticeforOvey
25. November 10-12th:
Being a weekend, Ovey was stabilized pending when he would see a couple of consultants. On Monday, he was seen by the hospital’s lead Orthopaedic Surgeon and a Plastic Surgeon. #JusticeforOVey
Being a weekend, Ovey was stabilized pending when he would see a couple of consultants. On Monday, he was seen by the hospital’s lead Orthopaedic Surgeon and a Plastic Surgeon. #JusticeforOVey
26. Ovey had developed dry gangrene on parts of his two forearms. He was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday the 12th. And then began one of the toughest battles I’ve ever fought since the day I was born. #JusticeforOvey
28. Ovey and his uncle at Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja. 
29. Here’s the thing, Ovey’s case had no precedent at the hospital and legally. From a legal standpoint, they needed consent from one of Ovey’s parents or a transfer of guardianship from the parent to someone else. #JusticeforOvey
30. There was no protocol for dealing with a stepmother in jail, and a fugitive father. While Ovey’s uncle was with him, he had no authority to give consent. The hospital understandably couldn’t do anything until we crossed this hurdle. #JusticeforOvey
31. Ovey’s father is a 50 naira bike ride away from me. I begged him for 3 days to come see me so I could at least get him to transfer consent. He promised but never showed up. A special report on Ovey was aired on Channels TV. See news mention here
32. November 13th:
We were pursuing the custody issue from several angles with the hope that we would be able to get what we needed and get the surgery done by the end of the week. #JusticeforOvey
We were pursuing the custody issue from several angles with the hope that we would be able to get what we needed and get the surgery done by the end of the week. #JusticeforOvey
33. The responsibility fell on me to counsel Ovey about his surgery. I knew what was going to happen and I had to be upfront about it. It was hard. #JusticeforOvey
34. My friend had asked me to ask Ovey what he likes/wants so she could get it for him. He asked for a bicycle😀
He was completely disconnected from his predicament. I had to ask him to list other stuff, as a bicycle wasn't very practical now.
He was completely disconnected from his predicament. I had to ask him to list other stuff, as a bicycle wasn't very practical now.
35. On the evening of the 13th, 16 days after his hands were burnt and with just the consent from his uncle, Ovey’s surgery was performed. #JusticeforOvey
36. Sadly, his left hand was amputated below the elbow. They were able to save his right hand. When his uncle called to ask if we should take the arm or allow the hospital dispose it, I switched off my phone and went to sleep, unable to take anymore. #JusticeforOvey
37. This thread is a summary of what turned out to be a nerve-wracking week. I am grateful for the kind support of dear friends who sent in donations, my family and my friend who gave me a blank cheque, an outlet to vent and without who Ovey’s fate would have been a grim one.
38. For the sake of Ovey, his treatment and the fact that there is an ongoing criminal investigation, I have refrained from saying so much. I am angry, very angry. I know why I feel the way I do but I’m still trying to decide where or at what/who this anger should be directed.
39. Ovey’s case has shown me, at an intimate level, how the Nigerian system conspires to truncate the destiny of its youths. This conspiracy may be unwitting, but there is a coordinated conspiracy all the same. #JusticeforOvey
P.s. (On a lighter note) I called to check on Ovey and he said to me, "You said they would put another hand for me. Where is it?"
Lol!
My main work with Ovey now is breaking down stuff in language that he can understand. Say a prayer for me will you?
#JusticeforOvey
Lol!
My main work with Ovey now is breaking down stuff in language that he can understand. Say a prayer for me will you?
#JusticeforOvey
