
The Nigerian Army has responded to a trending video alleging that it has left one of its personnel who sustained an injury while on a combat operation, in a state of abandonment and neglect at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (NARHK) since the incident.
Army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu on Thursday, said the narration was lopsided as it did not give a true picture of what transpired, neither did it acknowledge NA’s effort in providing medical and psychological support for the healing of the soldier and several other ailing personnel who had received medical intervention both within and outside the country.
Nwachukwu, while confirming that the injured army personnel, identified as Lance Corporal (LCPL) David Itodo, suffered a gunshot injury back in 2015, said the soldier was successfully managed at the same 44 NARHK “and was fully restored to active life”.
The Army spokesman revealed that Lcpl Itodo David , a 33 year old male soldier “is currently admitted in 44 NARHK following a complete spinal cord injury sustained 4 years ago, when he was knocked down by a fast moving vehicle while riding his motorbike at Abia State on 7 September 2020”.
He was then resuscitated at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri before he was evacuated to 82 Division Medical Services and Hospital (DMSH) Enugu and subsequently referred on 3 months post injury with Quadriplegia (paralysis of both arms and legs), muscle atrophy (loss of muscle mass) and multiple pressure sores over the occiput, arms and the gluteal region as well as fracture and displacement of the cervical vertebra. Also, a Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) revealed complete spinal cord transection injury.
Medical evaluation of his current situation reveals that his inability to walk is permanent, which has been adequately explained to the soldier. The finding was corroborated by medical experts both within and outside the shores of the country, who conducted both physical and remote medical reviews of his condition.
Nwachukwu averred that several medical interventions have been made to ameliorate his condition, even as he has been placed on physiotherapy to improve his muscle tone, while the pressure sores are continuously dressed and managed. He has also been regularly attended to by psychologists.
“The soldier has thus been on conservative management in the hospital and not abandoned as wrongly portrayed in the video. The leadership of the Nigerian Army genuinely empathizes with the personnel and wishes that it could do more to bring the soldier back to his feet in the face of a medically feasible opportunity”, Nwachukwu said.