"We were riding a bicycle in the compound when the big dogs - Jack and Gadaffi - started barking at us. Later, they moved towards us. My elder brother and I quickly ran upstairs and locked the door while Omo (Omonigho), who could not run fast, was left behind. When he got to the door, he knocked that we should open for him and as we did, one of the dogs forced his way into the house with him. We all ran out. Bobby jumped down from upstairs and I also jumped. But Omo could not jump, so the dog attacked him. The other dog also joined in the attack and there was nothing we could do.” he said
A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity, said the dogs were so vicious in their attack that everyone was too afraid to go near them...
"The police came, but said there was nothing they could do. The dogs were growling as they ate the child alive and that sent fear into everyone. Nobody could move inside to challenge the dogs. Everybody was just shouting in confusion and wielding sticks.” the resident said. Another resident says the owner of the dogs, one Stanley Wesley who has since been arrested by the police, was warned to stop keeping the dogs in their neighborhood but he turned a deaf ear
"We became alarmed when he brought a third dog recently which was more ferocious and bigger than the others. Whenever he took that dog on a walk, even adults would be scared. People told him to find a place to keep his giant dogs, but he refused to listen. It was the new dog that first followed those children into the house" the resident who pleaded anonymity said
Mrs Odia Abraham, the mother of the boy, said she was at work when the attack, which lasted over an hour and a half happened
"When I got there, I met a crowd. They asked me not to go inside, but I refused to listen to them. One of the dogs emerged from the corridor with blood stains in its mouth. I ran inside. The other dog, on sighting me, pounced, but I fought back. It later ran away. I called on people who joined me to take him to a hospital. This has been a nightmare I want to wake up from. The doctor at Igando said his condition was critical and we should take him to LASUTH. When the incident happened, I was away at work. But when I got home, I saw parts of my son’s scalp on the floor. The dogs dragged him through the compound for about one and half hours and nobody moved near them. His face was also affected, but thankfully it did not get to his eyes. His two brothers, who survived, also got injured. The seven-year-old who spoke with you has a fracture, which we are still treating. The other, who is 13 years, has a minor injury. “We marked Omo’s fourth year birthday in June. He is a very intelligent boy and he always tells me he wants to be a soldier because he loves to protect people. I am hoping this thing will not affect his brain.” she said
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the report but however absolved the police of being negligent in helping to rescue the little boy during the attack
“I can confirm to you that on September 25, at about 5.40pm, dogs belonging to one Stanley Wesley attacked and harmed a four-year-old boy and the matter was reported at the Igando Police Division. The report from the Divisional Police Officer indicated that the dogs were being kept to undergo some tests, while their owner had been arrested. The report that the police did not do anything is not true.” he said
Source: Punch
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