Three years after an alleged shooting involving operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) claimed the life of their two-year-old son, the Omhonria family has renewed its demand for the payment of the ₦200 million compensation recommended by the Senate, lamenting that justice has yet to be served.
The family said their surviving son, Eromonsele, now four years old, permanently lost the sight in one eye after sustaining a gunshot injury during the July 13, 2023 incident along Okpanam Road in Asaba, Delta State.
The incident occurred on the tragic Thursday of July 13, 2023, at Hillsi Cakes N More Academy, owned by the children’s mother and located at Edoz Plaza, near Sweet Spirit Hotel in Asaba.
Although the Senate reportedly recommended that the Federal Government pay the family ₦200 million in compensation and directed that the child’s medical treatment be fully funded by the NDLEA, the family said no payment has been made while medical expenses continue to mount.
Speaking on the development, the children’s father, Fidelis Omhonria, described the past three years as a period of emotional, physical and financial hardship, saying the family has continued to bear the consequences of the tragic incident without relief.
He expressed disappointment that despite repeated appeals and the Senate’s intervention, the compensation has not been paid, while his surviving son still requires urgent specialist treatment to improve his condition.
The family’s lawyer, Matthew Edaghese, had earlier petitioned the National Assembly, maintaining that the NDLEA failed to justify the shooting.
Following its investigation, the Senate urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the recommended compensation package.
The family is now appealing to President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate Committee on Compliance to ensure the recommendation is implemented without further delay.
They also urged the Federal Government to facilitate full medical treatment for the surviving child, insisting that the Senate’s resolution should be honoured in the interest of justice and humanity.
