Family of Boy Shot by NDLEA Alleges Neglect, Demands Compensation; House Committee Calls for Urgent Resolution

The family of Eromonsele Omhonria, a two-year-old boy shot in the eye by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers in Delta State, has alleged that the agency has abandoned the child without providing any medical attention since the incident. The shooting occurred on July 13, 2024, during an NDLEA raid, in which Eromonsele’s older brother, Ivan, who was also hit by stray gunfire, was killed.

At a House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions hearing on Tuesday, the children's parents accused the agency of neglecting their surviving son. Present at the hearing were the children's parents, their lawyer, and NDLEA representatives. The father, Fidelis, stated that NDLEA had abandoned the toddler, whose tears were mixed with blood due to the gunshot wound to his eye.

The family's lawyer, Mathew Edaghese, informed the committee that efforts had been made privately to get Eromonsele treated at a hospital in the United States, following referrals from the Eye Foundation in Lagos. "This recommendation was made within the first week after the incident," he said. "The family has made several attempts to secure a visa, but NDLEA did nothing."

The family is demanding N2 billion in compensation from the NDLEA. However, Committee Chairman Mike Etaba expressed concern over the delay in providing medical treatment for the child while suggesting that the compensation request may be unrealistic. He criticized NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa's absence from the hearing and encouraged the agency to engage in a resolution process acceptable to all parties.

Etaba invited Marwa and the children's parents to a meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 24, at 10 a.m. The NDLEA’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo, acknowledged the invitation, indicating that while a related case was in court, it should not prevent the House's investigation. She was cautioned against misleading the committee about the legal implications.