The family of a 15-year-old girl, Ayomide Adaranijo, is in dire need of financial assistance after a suspected gunman shot the Senior Secondary School student in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Wednesday.
Ayomide, a student of one the public schools in the state, is currently receiving medical treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital(EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.
Narrating the mysterious incident, the victim’s mother, Mrs Omolayo Adaranijo, explained that they were at Basiri junction around 7:56pm on that said day when a motorbike carrying a man clad in Agbada attire parked at a nearby and opened fire on her daughter.
The 45-year-old single parent, who hailed from Agbado-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government of Ekiti-State, said people at the junction, numbering eight, had to scamper for safety when the shots rang out four times as her daughter fell and blood started oozing out from her breast, stomach and arms.
She said the suspect immediately jumped on the waiting motorbike and fled the scene before some good Samaritans rushed her daughter to EKSUTH.
”I have a small shop at NOVA junction at Basiri where I sell some wares. I had closed that day, it was around 7:56pm and we were looking for motorbike to take us to Ifesowapo, Better life, Basiri area where I live when this man just alighted from the okada and shot my daughter.
“The doctors and nurses on duty at the emergency section did a good job, if not, I had already presumed her dead. They quickly worked on her and removed the pellets from her stomach, breast and arms.
“The younger children had gone home that day, maybe the issue could have been worse than that. I still couldn’t fathom why she should be the one to be shot.
“I came to Ado Ekiti from Ibadan less than two years ago after breaking up with her father. I don’t have crisis with anybody, so this still remains a mystery to me.
“My daughter is a very gentle and studious person, she doesn’t engage in discussion with people let alone hurting them. I want this matter investigated thoroughly, so that the perpetrator can be brought to justice,” she narrated.
Mrs Adaranijo added that the family had spent over N150,000 borrowed from people to pay hospital bills, while surgery and post-surgery treatments would gulp as much as N500,000 to keep Ayomide on her feet.
She therefore appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid as the bills are increasing daily.
Confirming the incident, Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Sunday Abutu, said investigations has been launched to unravel the mystery and bring the perpetrator who targeted such a young girl to justice.
Meanwhile, Mrs Adaranijo can be reached via 08034646410, while donations can be paid into Union Bank account no 0002249664 (Daranjo Omolayo F.).