A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Itodo David, who sustained a spinal cord injury while he was in the line of duty, has accused the Nigerian Army of abandoning him without the necessary medical care.
David, who has been bedridden at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna since 2020, claims the military has failed to fulfill its promise of flying him abroad for specialised surgery.
David, who served with service number 13NA/69/0484 LCPL, told SaharaReporters on Friday that despite assurances from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, to ensure injured soldiers receive necessary medical treatment, nothing has been done regarding his case.
“I have given up hope,” he lamented. “I have been here at 44 in Kaduna since 2020. They promised to file a bond so they could fly me out of the country for surgery, but since then, nothing has been done.”
David’s condition has reportedly deteriorated due to the lack of medical care, and he expressed profound frustration over the Army’s failure to meet its commitments to wounded soldiers.
“Some people came last month to check on me, but I didn’t know why they came, and I have not received any official response regarding my case. Honestly, I have given up,” he said.
Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to messages.
On January 15, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that David, a Nigerian soldier severely injured in the line of duty, had accused the Nigerian Army of neglecting him and failing to cover the costs of his spinal cord surgery.
The soldier, who sustained a life-altering spinal injury during operations in Abia State on September 4, 2020, has been bedridden at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for over four years.
David, with service number 13NA/69/0484 LCPL, expressed his frustrations to SaharaReporters.
He questioned why the government honours fallen heroes while neglecting those still alive but battling severe health challenges.
“They only remember us when we are dead,” David said.
Before his injury, Lance Corporal David served for six years in the North-East, participating in critical counter-terrorism operations against insurgents.
Despite his dedication and sacrifices, he claimed the government and military authorities had failed to provide the necessary support for his recovery.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, he said his life had been turned upside down because the incident had severely affected his ability to speak clearly.
He explained that he urgently needed buttock surgery, but the Nigerian Army had remained silent.
This is despite the fact that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, instructed during his visit to Jaji last year that the names of injured soldiers should be compiled immediately to ensure they receive adequate medical attention.
David said that since 2020, when he sustained a spinal cord injury, no surgery had been performed.
He said he had been bedridden ever since, unable to perform daily activities, enduring immense pain every day.
“Why are they neglecting gallant officers who have defended the sovereignty of this country? They have abandoned me since 2020. Now they are honoring the dead. Are they waiting for us to die before they remember us?” he lamented.
“I need to see a specialist doctor and undergo buttock surgery while awaiting spinal cord surgery. As I speak to you, nothing has been done.”
He appealed to the Nigerian government: “I am begging the Nigerian government to please consider my plight. I have served this country to the best of my ability, but instead of reaping the fruits of my labour, I am left to suffer.”
David also appealed to Nigerians and the government for assistance: “Please help me. I don’t want to die like this. I have suffered enough, and my family has done everything they can. The government should remember me while I am still alive.”
