Physically challenged man dumped in refuse heap

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

A man living with disability and the only child of his late mother, identified as Danjuma, has been allegedly dumped on a refuse heap by a relation in an apparent bid to quicken his death.
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Family sources said no one could locate the whereabouts of Danjuma’s father.

Although his late mother‎ , a former staff of the defunct Nigerian Telecommunication Company (NITEL), left money for his upkeep, Danjuma’s family sources said the money was spent on other things.

Journalists whose attention were drawn to the incident had to climb the high refuse heap where Danjuma was dumped to talk to him.

Danjuma later demanded a plate of rice before revealing that he was dumped there by his uncle. The wheel chair used by Danjuma was at the refuse heap.

Neighbours who spoke to journalists, accused a relation of Danjuma of dumping him on the refuse heap. They claimed that Danjuma had to endure rain and sun, adding that, his uncle threatened to deal with anybody that gave him (Danjuma) food.

One of the neighbours, Pastor Infeanyi Anyanli, told journalists that Danjuma was recently brought to the uncle’s house.

“He has been in that place, at times inside the flood and under the sun for many days. We used to give him bread and food,” he said.

Speaking on Danjuma’s condition, Coordinator of Forum of Women in Politics, Florence Igbinigie, said the uncle was annoyed that family members that collected the N6 million left by Danjuma’s mother before they brought him to his house.

She said the uncle initially abandoned Danjuma at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and that the university management brought him back to the uncle’s house.

She noted that, “I have reported to the Women Affairs Ministry and they are yet to take action. The boy needs medical care and rehabilitation. He can still be someone great,” Igbinigie said.