By Moses John
Abuja
Bomb Victims Association of Nigeria (BVAN) has demanded for an investigation into the Victim Support Fund established in July 2014, with a view to ascertaining the whereabouts of the about N58 billion raised for the support of the victims.
Chairman of the association, Olatunji Kayode Oladele, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, said such investigation would help the victims “who cannot tell the true state of the Fund.”
Olatunji lamneted that due to prolonged neglect of the victims of this bomb blasts across Northern Nigeria, some who initially survived the bombings have died, as a result of little or no medical care, while others was their inability to continue with their medical bills or further their treatment here in Nigeria or abroad.
It would be recalled that a committed headed by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd), was constituted by former President Goodluck Jonathan to mobilise funds for the victims of bomb attacks across the country.
However Jonathan spokesman, Reuben Abati, after the ceremony said a total of N58.79 billion was realised, exceeding the initial target of N50 billion by N8.79 billion.
The chairman of the association said that a victim named Hope Musa, a survivor of June 26th 2014 EMAB plaza bomb blast and a founding member of the Bomb Victims Association of Nigeria died two weeks ago due to injuries sustained from the blast, due to her inability to afford treatment for a neurosurgical operation abroad.
He said: “That a framework be set up to make this fund available to real victims of bomb blast many of whom are in dire need of medical attention and means of livelihood.
“That the Bomb Victims Association, which has as its members actual victims of bomb blasts, be included in the committee of the Victims support many of the victims have lost their lives as a result of government negligence and neglect, many which initially survived the bombing, died months later for inability to cope with exorbitant medical bills, which the federal government promised to clear at every bomb blast that occurred.”
