Oyo NUT assists police stray bullet victim with N450,000

THE Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Oyo State chapter, on Wednesday, presented a cheque of N450,000 to one Mr Abayomi Olaitan, who was hit with by a police stray bullet in Ibadan, the state capital, in December 2016.

Olaitan, a teacher at CAC Primary School I, Irefin, Ibadan, was hit by a stray bullet, at Oje area of Ibadan, on December 26, 2016, while the police attempted to arrest an articulated vehicle that failed to stop as ordered by the police.

Olaitan, who has been receiving treatment at the University College hospital, Ibadan, is said have been referred to the United Kingdom for better medical attention at the cost of about £10,000.

Chairman, Oyo NUT, Mr Niyi Akano, alongside the state secretary, Mr Waheed Olojede, who did the presentation at Teachers’ House, Ibadan, said the union through the gesture, activated Article 14 of the union’s constitution, which emphasised corporate assistance to any member of the union facing one form of distress or the other.

Akano who decried that Olaitan faced grave financial constraints in making the recommended medical trip appealed to the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, well meaning individuals and organisations to also assist in saving Olaitan’s life.

He added that the gesture was just its widow’s mite to support the medical expenses that the victim had incurred since the incident occurred, praying for more contributions of others.

Olojede, who recalled that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had offered assistance to teachers in need, in time past, prayed that same gesture be extended to Olaitan.

Recounting his ordeal, Olaitan, who said he has been in teaching profession for the past 19 years said, “I was driving from Agodi Gate towards Oje. A truck was coming and policemen were pursuing it. The truck driver drove roughly possibly to resist arrest. When the truck eventually pulled up, a police van parked behind it. People ran helter skelter.”

“I was driving in my own car. By the time I pulled up, I saw blood coming out of my right eye, and that was how I was rushed to the hospital,” he said.