Wednesday 10 October 2012

Man Without Face Fears Unborn Child Will Look Like Him

India - A father-to-be has spoken for the first time about living with no face – and how he’s terrified he has passed his condition onto his unborn child. Mohammad Latif Khatana, 32, from Kashmir, India, cannot see or work due to the severe creases on his face.

He is now over the moon that his wife is seven months pregnant, but worried his son or daughter will look like him.

He saya: “I cannot wait to be a father and have some happiness in my life. But I worry every day and pray my child is not born like me.”

Latif, who lives high in the mountains with his 25-year-old wife Salima, in Tuli Bana, in Jammu and Kashmir, travels to Srinagar for four months of the year to beg and find money.

He was born with a small lump on his face, but it has continued to grow and now form huge flaps across his face, making it impossible for him to see.

Latif says: “My mother still cries when she looks at me. She feels so much guilt and cannot understand why her youngest boy was cursed.”
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Latif is the youngest of two brothers and three sisters - and the only child suffering this condition. Without his siblings, he would’ve lived a very lonely childhood without friends: “Nobody wanted to play with me as a child,” he recalls. “The boys in my village used to beat me and taunt me every day. I lost my left eye when I was eight years old and they used to call me one-eye freak.

As an adult, Latif continues to face many struggles. He is a strong man, but because of his failing eyesight and facial condition no-one would give him a job.

He says: “I’d love to do an honest day’s work like a normal man providing for his family. It would make me so proud, but no one will give me a chance. I have to beg and hope people take pity on me so that I can feed my family.”
Latif remembers many occasions when people spat on him as they walked past.

However, four years ago Latif finally met the love of his life. His parents tried hard to find him a wife, but no girl would come forward, until Latif heard about Salima.

“My wife has only one foot, and so for many years she struggled to meet a husband. As soon as we met we knew we were right for one another,” he says. “We were both medically incomplete, we were a good match.”

They married in a traditional Muslim summer ceremony with 400 guests, in August 2008, and have been very happy ever since.
“I feel very blessed to have met Salima, she is good for me.", Latif adds. “I feel a little normal now I have a wife, a little more complete than I did before. And now that she is pregnant with our first child, I am even happier. No matter how I look I am a happy man right now.”
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But Latif, who is in no pain and takes no medication, still worries his child will be born with the same facial condition.
He says: “We can’t afford to see a doctor now, we’re too poor. And no doctor in the past has told me not to have children. I can only hope and pray that our baby will be healthy.”

Latif’s brother decided to sell some land eight years ago to pay for a trip to send Latif to see a doctor.

But, Latif says, “The doctor told me that my condition was due to a solar eclipse when my mother was pregnant with me. I don’t know whether to believe him.

“And now there is so many veins going through my creases that surgery would be too dangerous. I have lost all hope of help.
“This is how I’ll look forever.”
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Now, that God has blessed him with a wife, and he is waiting for his first child to be born, maybe he found his happiness? He surely deserves it... We hope his child is born without medical complications...
 
 
When we see situations like this, all we should say is ... Thank you Lord!! Keep saying it..

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Police brutality: “They inserted metal into my private part” – Middle-aged woman in Ogun



 A middle-aged woman, Mrs QUEEN AKINDELENI, of Anu Oluwa Complex, Jolu Road, Sango-Ota, Ogun State made these revelations. This is her story in her own words

I was a property developer and seller of building materials at Edu Agbara, Ogun State prior to my arrest, detention and injuriously torture sometimes in October, 2009.

I woke up one morning and suddenly allegations were made against me was that I was responsible for the death of my husband Mr. Ayodele Akindeleni whose where about could not be ascertained at the time, then the matter was reported at Agbara Police Station, Agbara, Ogun State. I went to Agbara Police Station, Agbara,Ogun State, myself on the 12thof October 2009 to report the matter after I was threatened by the family of Mr. Ayodele Akindeleni that they will kill me and my Children, Charles Ighovoyiwi and Esther Ighovoyiwi, if I did not tell them the where about of Mr. Ayodele Akindeleni.

I made the compliant on the threat to my life and the lives of my children, I was not permitted to leave the Police Station, and as my children came one after another to look for me, they were also arrested.

They expected me to make a confessional statement that I killed Mr. Ayo Akindeleni, after his family member, James Akindeleni, came to complain.
The D. P. O. of Agbara Police Station at that material time told the team investigating the case that they should not call the case murder case, but rather missing of Mr. Ayo Akindeleni.

My son Charles came to look for me after he came back from school and it was the heavy noise of his cry that made me knew he was around. Charles later told me and I believe it to be true that it was the back of a gun that was used to hit him at his legs.

I totally do not know anything about the disappearance of Mr. Ayodele Akindeleni, neither was I responsible for his alleged death, on a Saturday I was taken to one bush to go and see one skeleton/Carcass they called the carcass of Mr. Ayo Akindeleni. The next day which was Sunday the team of Police Officers who investigated the case at Agbara Station, excluding DCO 1, whose name I did not know, and the D. P. O., came to station and took me out. The team of Police Officers who investigated the case at the Police Station ,Agbara, Ogun State, tortured me with cruelty that I must confess that I killed the alleged deceased person.

I can only remember the first names of two out of the team of Police Officers who were involved in this case at Agbara Police Station, Agbara, Ogun State; the first names are Shadrach ( DCO 2) and Raphael. Shadrach gave me one straight metal with four corners, which looked like window aluminium to carry and tell him whether it was heavy or not. I told him the metal was heavy and he took it from me and Shadrach started using it to beat me repeatedly on the left side of my body from up to down. Then later the three other Police Officers joined him (Shadrach), they beat me with the metals in their hands and led me to the Barrack (the Police residence within the premises), as I was struggling to climb the veranda Shadrach used the metal in his hand to strike me hard at my back, I fell down immediately and could not stand. As they were doing these I was screaming and wailing with pain that was beyond description.

They later took me into a bathroom, and i was asked to remove my under wear (pant). The team of Police Officers who investigated the case asked a female officer, whose name I could not remember, to insert the metal which Shadrach gave her into my private part. The Female Police officer asked me to be screaming as if she has inserted it and I did as she instructed me. The Female Police officer later told them that she had inserted the metal into my private part but I did not confess. Then Shadrach came to the bathroom and took the metal from the female officer and tried to perceive it smell/odour to confirm if it was truly inserted into my private part.

Shadrach discovered that the metal was not inserted into my private part, he took it himself and held me with force to the ground, with my legs wide opened and forcefully inserted the metal into my vaginal. Shadrach inserted the metal into me forcefully, I screamed with the whole of my strength and I felt as if life had gone out of me.

Then immediately he removed the metal I faintly saw a heavy rush of blood out of my vagina, but was weak and helpless. I was held and partially carried back to the passage of the Police Station, Agbara where I was laid on the floor. I was there on the floor blood continued to flow and I discovered that I eventually fainted, because I woke up and I saw myself soaked with water.When the D. P. O. of the Police Station saw me, he was surprised and asked whether they tortured me and they responded that they did not torture me.
I was not attended to by anyone and I started smelling. About four days later a man was invited to examine me and they later brought drugs for me to use.I discovered that with the drugs I was given the flow of blood reduced. I then noticed that urine was just leaking out of my private part and I could not control it at all.

My daughter Esther Ighovoyiwi who was twelve (12) year old at the material time was arrested on the same allegation at Agbara Police Station, Agbara, Ogun State by the team of Police Officers who investigated the case. While Esther Ighovoyiwi was in detention, though only for that day when she came to look for me, at Agbara Police Station, she was severally slapped and inhumanly assaulted, by Shadrach, to the extent that she became sick and had her ears discharged pos uncontrollably under groaning pain.Esther Ighovoyiwi was eventually released on bail after her arrest and brief detention, which I knew, was unlawful.

My son Charles Ighovoyiwi who was Fourteen years old (14) at the material time was arrested, detained and tortured by the team of Police Officers who investigated the case, they beat up CharlesIghovoyiwi, using sticks on him and even threatened to kill him. My son spent one month and twenty nine days in detention at Agbara Police Station, Agbara without being charged or convicted of any crime.

After I was transferred to Nigeria Police Force, State Headquarters,Elewe Eran, Abeokuta, Ogun State, my son tod me that he was released by the influence of one man, whose name he did not know. The Police Officers who were equally part of the investigating team at the Nigeria Police Force, State Headquarter, Elewe Eran, Abeokuta, knew I was tortured and blood and urine was flowing from my vagina. They then went on to summon the team of Police Officers who investigated the case at Agbara Police Station and he asked me to identify the person that inserted metal into my vagina, which i did.

However I was not provided with medical attention at Elewe Eran, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abeokuta throughout my stay there. I was took into the Prison Custody, Nigerian Prison Service, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, with blood stained clothes and I was walking half-bent and I had to lean on someone, sometimes standing objects and walls to support myself.Even the staff of the Nigeria Prison Service, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State at the material time, including the medical personals at the Prison’s Clinic knew that my vagina was releasing urine uncontrollably and I had chronic pains in my back, bones and other parts of my body.

I was later given treatment in the Clinic of the Nigeria Prison Service, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and I was referred to Federal Medical Centre, but there was no money for my treatment. I was not taken to any Hospital for treatment outside the Nigeria Prison Service, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

During my stay at Ibara, i was interviewed by delegates from Citizens’ Right Department, Ministry of Justice, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State, I was also interviewed by one Barr. Ashaolu Joshua Olabowale , sometimes in July, 2010, who I identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps because of the NYSC uniform he wore at the welfare Department, Nigeria Prison Service, Ibara, Abeokuta. Barr. Ashaolu Joshua Olabowale told me and I very believed him to be true that he was serving with Ministry of Justice Ogun State as 2010/2011(BATCH A) member. He then told me that he was interested in my case. On subsequent visit to the Nigeria Prison Service, Ibara, Barr. Ashaolu Joshua Olabowale told me that he was handling my case personally, but was supervised by a senior State Counsel at the Citizens Right Department, Ministry of Justice, Ogun State. I was released on 2ndof September,2010 by the Order of the Chief Magistrate Court, Agbara based on the Advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Ogun State.I was made to understand that the allegation against me was frivolous, baseless and lacks merit, particularly considering the facts and evidence of the police.

They said that i and my children suffered for what we did not know about. After my release from the Prison Custody Barr. Ashaolu Joshua Olabowale took me to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta, where I was examined at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and I was asked to run several tests. My Hospital Card number is 80626.

After the medical examinations and tests were carried out, Barr. Ashaolu Joshua applied for my Medical Report. I was confirmed to have Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), which it main symptom is continuous involuntary discharge of urine, because of the abnormal openings in the internal parts of my genital/vagina caused by the metal the Police Officer inserted into my Vagina. I was scheduled to undergo further examination which I was preparing for when I lost contact with Barr. Ashaolu Joshua O. All my efforts to get him proved abortive, because I left the place where I was squatting and I was not using a mobile phone. I did not hear from him or see him till the end of his stay in Abeokuta.

I went to the Citizen’s Right Department, Ministry of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State and I was told to go and treat myself because they cannot take up the matter for me.I was told by one of the Doctors that examined me that my case requires a major repair surgery and I know it must be very expensive. They said i could not go for the final examination and treatment because I had no money. I am still living with my situation and it is even worst now, because I ooze foul odour and release urine involuntarily, apparently an effect of a ruptured bladder occasioned by the inhuman torture I suffered in the hands of the Investigating Police Officer at Agbara Police Station, Ogun State. So because I could not afford to treat myself in Abeokuta and to avoid the way I am being openly embarrassed by the way I smell, the way I am rejected and avoided, I relocated to a village in Ogun State, where I now farm to survive.

I was a sucessful business woman before, had taken a long walk from Agbara POLICE DETENTION TO ELEWE ERAN, ABEOKUTA POLICE DETENTION TO NIGERIA PRISON SERVICE CUSTODY TO ABEOKUTA TOWNSHIP AS WONDERER AND NOW IN A VILLAGE IN OGUN STATE LIVING ALONE, APPARENTLY WAITING FOR MY END.

I have been kicked out of the public, I have to withdraw because I am often rejected and avoided.I have lived with continuous flow of urine from my Vagina and have used cloths among others as sanitary pad to pack my genital/vagina for more than one thousand (1000) days.The trauma of the barbaric acts still frightens me.

The V. V. F., general body and internal pains and other health issues confirmed in my body after examinations still remain untreated.

My consultant can be reached on 07051647234 This injustice left my children, Charles Ighovoyiwi and Esther Ighovoyiwi with a bitter and dreadful story, which they will live with for the rest of their lives.Charles Ighovoyiwi, who was a student of Tech 1, Technical College Igbesa, Ogun State missed all school activities for a whole school term. Esther Ighovoyiwi (age 12) who was a student of Edu Agbara Community Secondary School had to leave school and fend for herself. My children are now drop outs and have no hope of going back to school. My little Esther had to become a mother when she never wanted.

Gosh!!!! This is brutality in it's highest state. Indeed, the heart of men is evil!!! God help this nation Nigeria!

Aluu 4 killing – Llyod Devastated Parents Speak Out


Llyod’s parents , Mrs. Jane Toku, the mother of Lloyd, one of the four undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt that were lynched at Aluu community in Rivers State, says her son’s death will always haunt her.

She also expressed shock that the crowd could watch how her son and his friends were gruesomely murdered. Jane spoke with Punch correspondent amid tears on Monday in Port Harcourt.

Jane said, “When we got there, one of them was still breathing. He was gasping for breath, but the crowd…they were all there watching while my baby (Lloyd) was butchered. Come to my area and ask questions about my child; the child I trained.

“Penultimate Sunday, we went to church, Salvation Ministry; that is where he worshiped  We all went together for the second service. He stayed back for the remaining service. When he came back, he started preparing to go to school. I can still see him as I talk to you.

“He brought out a book; ‘How Faith Works’ by David Ibiyomie and he said ‘Mummy, read this book and you will know what faith is all about. By the time I come back on Friday, you will tell me what faith is all about.

“Ever since, I have been moving around with that book, so that I could read and not get him angry when he comes back from school and ask me about what I learnt from the book.

“Thursday was his daddy’s birthday. He (Lloyd) called him and wished him happy birthday. When his daddy asked him if he would be coming home to celebrate the birthday with the family, he (Lloyd) promised to be back on Friday after lectures.

“But on Friday morning, we got the call that my son was being beaten. How can I erase the fact that my son was lynched from my mind? He studied very hard and got admission into the university.”

Meanwhile, the community was like a ghost town on Monday as the inhabitants of the area left their homes to avoid being arrested by security agents.

Shops, restaurants and mini supermarkets were also shut by their owners who felt students of the university were planning a reprisal on the community.

Four students were on Friday morning lynched by suspected members of the community for allegedly stealing laptops and mobile phones.

Students living off campus in the community were not left out in the rush to leave the community to avoid the wrath of security agents, who had been patrolling the area.

The police had since the killing of the four students arrested 13 suspects from Omuokiri village in Aluu, including the village head.

Immediate past President of UNIPORT Student’s Union, Mr. Rhino Owhorkire, told our correspondent that students had shelved the idea of any reprisal.

Owhorkire vowed not to rest until those behind the killings were brought to book.

Lloyd’s parents appealed to government not to allow those involved in the gruesome murder of their child and his friends go scot-free.

Lloyd Toku was a 200 level undergraduate of Civil Engineering at the university before he was killed.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Monday, Lloyd’s father, Mr. Mike Toku, insisted that his son was neither a thief nor a cult member.

Toku, who is the Assistant Director, Presentation, Radio Rivers and a father of three male children, narrated how he got a distress call that his son was being beaten up by a mob.
He said, “On Friday morning at about 7am, we got a distress call that our son was being beaten alongside two of his friends. So, we quickly rushed down. Initially, it was very difficult for us to locate the place, but by the grace of God, we were able to locate the place.

“By the time we got there, we saw a mammoth crowd with a few Joint Task Force members there. So, we pulled through the crowd and when I tried to move closer, the JTF operatives told me to move back. Later on, one of my cousins supported me and we moved on again and explained to them (JTF operatives).

“I move close to the four corpses on the ground and I discovered that one of them was my son. We were also able to identify the other three as his friends. We took the corpses to UPTH to ascertain whether they were still alive. A doctor came out, examined them and said they were all dead. My son has never stolen before,” Toku explained amid tears.

He called on government not to allow those behind the gruesome murder of his son and his friends to go unpunished.

“All I want is for justice to be done. That’s all. Whoever carried out that dastardly act should be brought to book. That is all I want. I have not got assurance from anybody that justice will be done. I am yet to get that (assurance). Nobody has talked to us yet.
Also, Toku’s wife, Mrs. Jane Toku, stated that the crowd was watching while his son was being butchered to death.