Family of Nurse Blinded by Police Teargas Seeks Compensation

Funmi Ogundare

The family of a 25-years old nurse, Miss Joy Sunday, is demanding a compensation from the police who allegedly fired a teargas canister in her face from a close range during a protest at Mangoro Bus Stop, Lagos, last Monday by commercial bus drivers over alleged extortion  from officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

Miss Sunday was said to have been injured when operatives of the Lagos State Police Command were dispersing the protesting commercial drivers.

The lady, an eye witness, simply named as Ogbonna, told THISDAY came down from one of the commercial buses to collect her balance from a commercial bus driver, only for the police to fire teargas at her forehead which affected her eye.

Her brother, Jack, also told THISDAY that his sister was coming back from work as it was her off-day, when the incident happened.

He stated that she was rushed to a nearby private hospital in Mangoro, where she was given first aid treatment and referred to Air force-base eye clinic for further treatment.

Jack explained that the Airforce-based eye clinic confirmed that her left eye has been damaged by the impact of the teargas and she is still bleeding and battling for life.

“The teargas has left a massive hole in her head close to her left eye and she is battling for life as I speak. Though the area has been stitched, she is still bleeding. Why will the police do this to her? She is neither a thief nor a criminal. My heart is heavy now,” the distraught Jack lamented.

As of the time of filing this report, all efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, proved abortive as he did not respond to messages sent to him.