SURROUNDED by wife, son and two relatives, Pa Jacob Ikilo, 72 sat on his hospital bed at the Male Orthopaedic Ward, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ugbowo, Benin City, last Friday.
Then, a doctor appeared, observing an oily fingers of Pa Ikilo, he quizzed “what was used to rub this place?”. A Rub! Pa Ikilo’s son, Paul replied. Why? The doctor again queried and warned, “No you don’t do that! Never! Never oh! This hand is being held by one small blood vessel, is like a rope, it is the only thing supplying blood, that is why it is still alive, if it cuts…”,
“As we are dressing it, just leave it like that, if he has pain, let him call us.
“You know Papa does not tolerate pains at all…..”. The doctor stated.
As the doctor walked away I asked myself, at what age is pain tolerable? What nature of pain can human body tolerate? Can anyone including the doctor whose body is still very fresh and strong, tolerate machete cuts of this degree on Papa’s body?
Pa Jacob Ikilo, septuagenarian, father of three adult children from Igueben town in Igueben local government area of Edo State, worked as a guard at a popular filling station (name withheld) along Benin-Auchi Road, Eyaen, in Benin City.
While on duty about 3a.m on Monday, February 29, 2016, he heard a strange noise in the station’s premises.
Curious to ascertain the situation, he decided to walk around the yard which was in total darkness.
That short walk he took that night will forever be a WALK TO REGRET as the armed robbers who sneaked into the station’ premises unnoticed, descended on him with their machetes ripping off his two wrists in the process.
Sources said he needs over N380, 000.00 for surgery for his right wrist which the doctor said is being kept alive by a tiny blood vessel.
Narrating his ordeal to our crime reporter, Pa Jacob Ikilo said that when the strange noise hit his ears he went to the swiftly checked the plant house.
He maintained that as he left there, suddenly, feet scurried towards him as he managed to summon courage to foray himself to safety, the robbers launched a brutal attack on him.
“When I dey come from generator house I see them they loose tyres. I say make I quick quick run go back, Na e them just surround me.
“Once, they just cut off this my hand (left hand). As I shout, them say, shut up! Cut the other hand. As he cut am I come fall down, make una leave me oh, I wan die oh. Them come begin they butcher me, another two come, they say go throw way am for that place. Small time, I nor come know where I dey again”. Pa Ikilo recounted.
It was further gathered that the company manager who was contacted by a driver that discovered Pa Jacob Ikilo in pool of blood at a spot in the premises, allegedly invited men of Egba Divisional Police Station to take him to UBTH, Benin City.
On his remuneration, Pa Ikilo stated that he has been working for the past six months without his N15, 000.00 monthly stipend.
He wondered why his employer does not pay his stipend regularly even when him with another guard do 24 hours interchangeably.
He further revealed that of the said amount N3, 000.00 is deducted and paid to the company that assisted him to get the job as his monthly take home pay is N12, 000.00.
It was also learnt that management of the filling station is yet to respond to the sudden plight of their employee.
Efforts to reach the management of the company failed.
Pa Jacobs Ikilo who is now being spoon-fed like a baby appealed to Edo State Government, relevant authorities, agencies and kind-hearted individuals to come to his aid as he took up the job to escape begging and idleness.
