Benue Policemen Donate to Injured Colleague

George Okoh in Makurdi

It was a moment of excitement when injured Inspector John Oriyan of Operation Zenda, a Joint Police taskforce in the Benue State Police Command, when his colleagues led by the Commander, CSP Justin Gberindyer, appeared by his hospital bedside to support him with the sum of half a million naira, and an award for gallantry, resilience and dedication to duty.

Inspector Oriyan was admitted at the NKST Hospital Mkar in Gboko Local Government Area of the state in April after he was crushed by a truck while on duty in Adikpo. The injuries he sustained led to the amputation of his right leg.

The bedridden Inspector Oriyan said he was taken by surprise when his Commander, Gberindyr, led other officers, unit heads, and over 50 of his colleagues to visit him on his hospital bed to present the cash donation and award.

The outgoing commander of Operation Zenda, a crack team of the joint police task force in the state, said: “The donation was a contribution from his colleagues to help him offset some of his medical bills and psychologically boost his morale despite the over N2 million needed, according to the management of the hospital, to manage and enable him to recover fully.”

CSP Gberindyr, who spoke to journalists shortly after making the presentation, described Inspector Orinyan as a dedicated officer whose service will be missed. He prayed for his quick recovery hoping that the little contribution his friends in the police have put together for him would help in any small way.

The outgoing commander, who was disheartened by Inspector Orinyan’s condition with one of his legs amputated, described the level of man’s inhumanity to man these days as worrisome.

The wife of the officer, Mrs. Faith Orinyan, was full of praises and appreciation for Gberindyr and his team for their love and support.

She said: “This is the fifth month we have been in the hospital since my husband had the accident, his boss has always been coming to assist us and he has never allowed us to lack. I pray that God will protect and guide them all.”

Elated by the show of love from members of his immediate constituency, Inspector Oriyan thanked his commander and men of Operation Zenda for standing by him all through his trying moment, and prayed to God to fill their pockets and their families.