The six-year old Boko Haram victim, Alih Ahmadu, who underwent a successful spinal surgery in Dubai, returned to the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday. To the waiting arms of well-wishers. His return provoked emotion at the airport as the boy who was flown out of the country on wheelchair could now walk.
Young Alih was run over by Boko Haram terrorists with motorcycle when they invaded Chibok village in 2013. He sustained spinal cord injury from the attack and was flown to Dubai by an NGO, Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care ((GIPLC) in conjunction with Televeras Group.
Alih’s treatment was sponsored by Dickens Sanomi Foundation, owners of Televeras Group of companies.
On arrival at the airport, Mr Goodluck Hayi, Board Member of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, expressed happiness that Alih, who was taken away on a wheel chair in September, could now walk.
Hayi said the initial amount estimated for the surgery could not cover the cost at the end, saying it was not necessary to disclose the amount spent since it was a charity work.
He announced that Ali would be given scholarship by the Taleveras Foundation to study up till university level.
According to him, the Foundation’s work is hinged on the principle of love and care which it demonstrates by being its neighbour’s keeper as well as teaching and showing it.
“Dickens Sanomi Foundation will be working with Ali’s family through GIPLC and will be supporting Ali post-surgery life to help him settle into Abuja and grow as a child.
“About three months ago, we all witnessed Ali Ahmadu being taken away on a wheel chair, 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 four years ago that confined him to a wheel chair, has transformed into a journey of hope, love and care,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Nuhu Kwajafah, the Coordinator of GIPLC, said that the little boy never had access to any form of orthodox medication until he was discovered by the NGO.
Kwajafah said that Alih was at the mercy of a traditionalist and was immobile and fast deteriorating physically and mentally from that period till the first quarter of 2017, when GIPLC made contact with him.
He noted that during this period, access to education, nutrition, psychosocial tuning, water, sanitation or hygiene, was very limited, if not non-existent.
“The organisation facilitated the relevant examinations and digital/lab tests for assessment and proper medical attention.
“The results revealed that he couldn’t access the quality care required to literally realign him toward a better quality of life, hence the decision to make prerequisite travel 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 United Arab Emirates.
“Today, Ali is back to Nigeria and all his sufferings are over as he can now walk.
“The spine behind has been fixed, some screws were added and after one year, it would be removed and we really thank God, the media and our partners, Dickens Sanomi Foundation,’’ he said.
Kwajafah said that GIPLC was committed to Ali’s post-surgery wellbeing and had received confirmation from Dickens Sanomi Foundation to support his settling in the society.
He said that agreement had been reached to keep Ali in Abuja to give him special care as well as meeting both his medical and educational needs to guarantee him good future.
“Next week is Ali’s birthday, but he has never celebrated his birthday because of his predicament.
“He had been lying down for three years but on Dec. 10, he will be celebrating his birthday with over 2,000 orphans where he will interact with other children.
“We run a charity organisation for the past eleven years where we reach out to kids who can’t pay medical bills and we have so far been able to raise more than four million dollars for children.
