Fulani herdsmen close to the scene of the Thursday plane crash in Yola involving Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State and a few of his aides, were the first to rush to their aid, it was gathered yesterday.
Sources in Yola said that but for the prompt response of the cattlemen who pulled the victims from the wreckage of the Cessna 208, it would have been difficult for the governor and the rest to survive. A rescue team from Yola later arrived the spot and transported the victims to the hospital.
The injured Governor was flown to Germany yesterday for more treatment after a high drama played out by security agents at the National Hospital, Abuja to confuse newsmen who had gathered there to record his evacuation.
First, the security operatives cordoned off parts of the hospital leading to the private ward of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where Suntai was receiving treatment. No human or vehicular movement was allowed in the area.
Then ambulances belonging to the National Hospital and vehicles believed to be those of the State Security Service (SSS) made two decoy evacuations all in an attempt to ensure that no reporter would be around during the real evacuation.
The vehicles drove out of the main gate only to return to the hospital a few minutes later.
When all that did not work they eventually took away the governor at 1.57pm in the same State House Medical Centre Ambulance that brought him from the Abuja airport to the hospital on Friday. The governor remained heavily bandaged and wore an oxygen mask.
In his convoy were six vehicles carrying doctors, security men, some legislators and close family members. Some of the vehicles in the convoy had the following registration numbers: Abuja CZ 724 RBC; Abuja CU 184 RSH; FG AD82A01; NPF 45839, BMW and a Toyota Prado Jeep BS 677 RSH.
Earlier, a medical doctor and Mr. Ibrahim Wilson, a Superintendent of Police met for some minutes at the entrance of the ICU where the governor’s family, associates, government officials and security agents had been hovering over since Friday.
At 12.45pm the driver of the State House ambulance marked SH 576 moved the vehicle from where it was parked to the entrance of the ICU. A security operative then moved round the corridor and said “no photograph, please. You are warned!”
At 1.07pm Superintendent Wilson drove away everybody on the route the ambulance would take with apologies that it would be few minutes. A bag suspected to belong to the governor’s wife that would be travelling with him was deposted in the boot of a Toyota Prado.
It was also gathered that the injuries to the governor’s right arm and head are quite massive. Another source decried a situation where there is no single plane to airlift critically injured trauma patients in the country.
He said a new state-of-the-art Trauma centre with provision for a helipad has been constructed at the National Hospital, but expressed disappointment that Suntai had to be driven to the airport in his critical condition.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday maintained that Nigeria has qualified manpower to handle critical conditions such as Suntai’s. In a statement, NMA Secretary General, Dr Akpufuoma Pemu, urged the Federal Government to do more by improving the healthcare infrastructure in the country.
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We thank God for sparing their lives and our thieves in power should cover their eyes in shame now Nigeria offical govt hospitals are in Germany. Why can't funds be put into having state of art hospitals in Nigeria. Jonathan seeing these things should have a rethink. Pls revive the American Hospital in Nigeria project that you people killed.
ReplyDeleteSo much for government plans to encourage treatment in Nigerian hospitals!
ReplyDeleteThe Deputy Governor of my State was killed in d German hospital when he had a motor accident & sustained serious injury. German hospital couldn't saved him either. Why can't our Government lived up to their promises for once by improving our health infrastructure to handle all cases of sicknessess & diseases instead of spending hard earned state funds for the same purpose.
ReplyDeleteMay God almighty heal him in Jesus name.
ReplyDeleteThe elites prefer health treatment and educating their kids abroad. Without this being checked I do not see how they will be forced to help the average nigerian who cannot afford to export their money abroad to get such facilities here. They don't care about us so where cam there average nigerian find the empathy for them knowing fully well that if any similar accident happened to them they will be rotting and smelling in a morgue with no light.
ReplyDeleteGovernor Suntai is not alone in the list of private jet owners among our Governors! No wonder our high ways are totally abandonned!Enugu-ph express road is a death-trap,lagos-benin express road unmotorable!just name one smooth highway in Nigeria in recent time? U keep wondering if our Governors don't use these roads! Let them be flying, the God of heaven will keep bringing them down! Our dear Governors keep flying! Abandon the roads for us!
ReplyDeleteCome 2 think of ít; why r dey nt flying d oda pple? Were they not 6? Or does it mean dat itz only d gov's case dat is critical?
ReplyDelete