The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday afternoon, witnessed an unusual human traffic as family members, friends, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media gathered to receive Ali Ahmadu, a six-year-old Chibok boy who had a successful surgery in Dubai, having suffered vertebral column damage, due to Boko Haram invasion.
Speaking with journalists at the airport, Coordinator of Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care(GIPLC), one of the NGOs that contributed to Ali’s medical trip abroad, Nuhu Kwajafah stated that, “about four years ago, in a small village at Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, a toddler named Ali Ahmadu Chibok fell victim to one of Boko Haram’s murderous invasions.
“That fateful night, he suffered excruciating pain all over his body, brought upon him by the senseless marauders. They crushed everything and everyone on their path, severely damaging his still-forming vertebral column in the process.
“Since that incident, the little boy never accessed any form of orthodox medication. He was at the mercy of traditionalist, in highly unpredictable and perilous times. Obviously, during this period, access to education, nutrition, psychosocial tuning, water, sanitation, or hygiene was very limited, if not non-existent,” he noted.
Kwajafah said that “Ali was immobile and fast deteriorating, physically and mentally, from that period till the first quarter of this year (2017), when Global Initiative for peace, love and care made contact with him.
“The organisation facilitated the relevant examinations and digital/laboratory tests for assessment and proper medical attention. The results revealed that he couldn’t access quality care required to literally realigned him towards a better quality of life, hence, the decision to make prerequisite arrangements to travel abroad.
“After duly assessing the various options open to us, from all over the world, we resolved to take him to the UAE. After almost six hours of extremely delicate surgery, about a week in ICU and a month in recovery, Ali took his first steps into a brighter future.”
He added that about $63,000 was spent on the medical trip of the Boko Haram victim.
Speaking on his member of board of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, Goodluck Hayi, co-contributing NGO responsible for Ali Ahmadu’s surgery, he explained that, “about three months ago, we all witnessed at the same airport as Ali Ahmadu was being taken away on a wheelchair, today, to the Glory of God we are here to receive Ali Ahmadu, walking handsomely into our arms.
“What started as a painful Journey for little Ali after his Boko Haram attack in Chibok, four years ago that confined him to a wheelchair, has transformed into a journey of hope, love and care,” he stated.
Hayi said further that,” Dickens Sanomi Foundation is backed by the principle of love and care, one that was practiced and preached by the late Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Dickens Sanomi. Today, we demonstrate these principles by being our neighbours’ keepers and teaching love by showing it.”
The aunt of the victim, Hannatu Madu, in emotion-laden voice told the Nigerian Tribune that, “we never believe he was going to survive, not to talk of walking. This is coming to us as a miracle and we are grateful to the NGOs and all Nigerians for their prayers.”
Ali Ahmadu was severely injured at the age of two in 2013 when Boko Haram invaded his parents’ home in Chibok.