Found this report in today’s PUNCH newpaper and just had to share it here…it is a must read for Dog owners.
Racheal Daudu and Makwa |
The news that a young boy died from dog
bite three years after his father also died from a similar cause would
make many people curious. But this is the tragic story that has
unsettled Mologede Estate, an unplanned but tranquil neighbourhood in
the Meiran area of Lagos.
bite three years after his father also died from a similar cause would
make many people curious. But this is the tragic story that has
unsettled Mologede Estate, an unplanned but tranquil neighbourhood in
the Meiran area of Lagos.
James Musa, a boisterous 13-year-old had
relocated to Lagos from Abuja, after a rabid dog fatally bit his father
in the Federal Capital Territory. On the often deserted inner roads in
the estate, Musa and his teenage friends played football. They would
shoot the ball into any neighbouring house where residents would scream
at them to get them right back on the streets.
relocated to Lagos from Abuja, after a rabid dog fatally bit his father
in the Federal Capital Territory. On the often deserted inner roads in
the estate, Musa and his teenage friends played football. They would
shoot the ball into any neighbouring house where residents would scream
at them to get them right back on the streets.
With three deaths in a spate of one
month, even a Nollywood tragedy script cannot be grimmer. During a visit
to the estate on Friday, our correspondent learnt, however, that Musa
might still be alive if he had told his aunt and her husband of the real
cause of the scratch just below his right eye. But he did not.
month, even a Nollywood tragedy script cannot be grimmer. During a visit
to the estate on Friday, our correspondent learnt, however, that Musa
might still be alive if he had told his aunt and her husband of the real
cause of the scratch just below his right eye. But he did not.
It was also learnt that the cycle of
deaths did not start with Musa. Jerry, a huge Alsatian dog owned by the
Ogundiran family living in the estate, allegedly caused the string of
deaths, which by now has Musa, Jerry and Aishat Opakunle, a 21-year-old
National Diploma graduate on its list. Jerry’s owner, identified simply
as Mr. Ogundiran, and his family had allegedly fled the community since
news of the first death broke.
deaths did not start with Musa. Jerry, a huge Alsatian dog owned by the
Ogundiran family living in the estate, allegedly caused the string of
deaths, which by now has Musa, Jerry and Aishat Opakunle, a 21-year-old
National Diploma graduate on its list. Jerry’s owner, identified simply
as Mr. Ogundiran, and his family had allegedly fled the community since
news of the first death broke.
A community of amorphous cottage houses,
Mologede Estate is home to a cluster of middle class families whose
buildings are mostly modest, unpainted and without a fence. The
Opakunle’s house on No. 114A is just beside No 115A where Jerry lived
with the Ogundiran family. Both houses are without a fence and so it was
not unusual for the dog to move into the next compound. Neighbour’s
accounts had it that the dog was a frequent sight on the road and in
Opakunle’s shop where Aishat usually fed him with crumbs of food.
Mologede Estate is home to a cluster of middle class families whose
buildings are mostly modest, unpainted and without a fence. The
Opakunle’s house on No. 114A is just beside No 115A where Jerry lived
with the Ogundiran family. Both houses are without a fence and so it was
not unusual for the dog to move into the next compound. Neighbour’s
accounts had it that the dog was a frequent sight on the road and in
Opakunle’s shop where Aishat usually fed him with crumbs of food.
Things went awry last month when Musa
allegedly touched the dog while playing with friends in No. 113A. Jerry
was said to have jumped on him, mauling the boy just under his right
eye. Unknown to its owners and neighbours, the Alsatian was not done
with its deadly mission. Without provocation, it bit Aishat on her right
palm on the night of the same day it attacked Musa.
allegedly touched the dog while playing with friends in No. 113A. Jerry
was said to have jumped on him, mauling the boy just under his right
eye. Unknown to its owners and neighbours, the Alsatian was not done
with its deadly mission. Without provocation, it bit Aishat on her right
palm on the night of the same day it attacked Musa.
Narrating the incident to our
correspondent, Musa’s aunt, Mrs. Racheal Daudu, expressed sadness at the
turn of events. According to her, Musa was a promising child who just
passed his Junior School Certificate Examination. She blamed the wife of
the dog’s owner for not disclosing to neighbours that it had rabies.
correspondent, Musa’s aunt, Mrs. Racheal Daudu, expressed sadness at the
turn of events. According to her, Musa was a promising child who just
passed his Junior School Certificate Examination. She blamed the wife of
the dog’s owner for not disclosing to neighbours that it had rabies.
“It was a very sad incident. Musa did
not tell us that a dog bit him. He said he fell and we believed him. It
was only after Aishat died that he told us that the dog that bit the
aunty that died also bit him. The whole thing happened in July. Musa did
not confess until Aishat died one month after. Then he complained of
headache and fever and we gave him some drugs. That was the Tuesday that
followed the Friday on which Aishat died. He even went out to play
football that same day.
not tell us that a dog bit him. He said he fell and we believed him. It
was only after Aishat died that he told us that the dog that bit the
aunty that died also bit him. The whole thing happened in July. Musa did
not confess until Aishat died one month after. Then he complained of
headache and fever and we gave him some drugs. That was the Tuesday that
followed the Friday on which Aishat died. He even went out to play
football that same day.
“But when I came back, I met him lying
down. Up till the time he died, he kept saying it was the woman (Mrs.
Ogundiran) that misled him. We rushed him to the hospital, but it was
too late. He started saying nonsense. He would have been 14 years-old
next month. He was my sister’s son. He came to live with us three years
ago after his father also died from dog bite,’’ she recalled.
down. Up till the time he died, he kept saying it was the woman (Mrs.
Ogundiran) that misled him. We rushed him to the hospital, but it was
too late. He started saying nonsense. He would have been 14 years-old
next month. He was my sister’s son. He came to live with us three years
ago after his father also died from dog bite,’’ she recalled.
While the Daudus appeared to be slowly
taken the tragedy in their stride by talking to the press, the Opakunles
on the other hand are still numb with grief. When our correspondent
knocked on their door, a middle-aged woman suspected to be Aishat’s
mother was eager to go back to her closet.
taken the tragedy in their stride by talking to the press, the Opakunles
on the other hand are still numb with grief. When our correspondent
knocked on their door, a middle-aged woman suspected to be Aishat’s
mother was eager to go back to her closet.
“We don’t have anything to say on the matter. The story is true but we don’t have anything to say,’’ she said in Yoruba.
Neighbours were less hesitant however.
One of them, a young lady who claimed to be Aishat’s friend spoke, on
condition of anonymity, about Aishat’s dreams. She said that having
completed her National Diploma programme, the deceased was in the
process of registering as a Computer Engineering student at the Moshood
Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
One of them, a young lady who claimed to be Aishat’s friend spoke, on
condition of anonymity, about Aishat’s dreams. She said that having
completed her National Diploma programme, the deceased was in the
process of registering as a Computer Engineering student at the Moshood
Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“She was a very nice and outspoken
person. I don’t believe she did not tell anybody that a dog bit her
because she was an adult. In fact, she was first taken to a nurse who
came to ask the woman (Mrs. Ogundiran) if Jerry had rabies and she said
no, that the dog just came back from the hospital after receiving
vaccination.
person. I don’t believe she did not tell anybody that a dog bit her
because she was an adult. In fact, she was first taken to a nurse who
came to ask the woman (Mrs. Ogundiran) if Jerry had rabies and she said
no, that the dog just came back from the hospital after receiving
vaccination.
“Everyone in the neighbourhood believed
her. We did not know that the dog died from rabies five days after it
bit Musa and Aishat. Yet, she did not disclose this. By the time we all
got to know that the dog had rabies and had died, Aishat had started
manifesting the symptoms. She fell ill on Wednesday and by Thursday she
was already barking and never allowed treatment,’’ she narrated in a
voice soaked with sadness.
her. We did not know that the dog died from rabies five days after it
bit Musa and Aishat. Yet, she did not disclose this. By the time we all
got to know that the dog had rabies and had died, Aishat had started
manifesting the symptoms. She fell ill on Wednesday and by Thursday she
was already barking and never allowed treatment,’’ she narrated in a
voice soaked with sadness.
Observations from Aishat’s friend are
consistent with expert’s view on the symptoms of rabies. According to
the Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Lagos State
Chapter, Dr. Alao Mobolaji, rabies is a fatal disease that should be
treated within hours of infection. Mobolaji, who was contacted by the
management of the hospital where Musa died, expressed regrets about the
incident.
consistent with expert’s view on the symptoms of rabies. According to
the Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Lagos State
Chapter, Dr. Alao Mobolaji, rabies is a fatal disease that should be
treated within hours of infection. Mobolaji, who was contacted by the
management of the hospital where Musa died, expressed regrets about the
incident.
“I was with him (Musa) the day before he
died and he even spoke with me. Children are the most vulnerable when
it comes to rabies and it is a highly preventable infection. From the
animal angle, there are vaccines to prevent it and also from the human
angle there are also relevant vaccines. Once you know there is a dog
bite, you have to be given prophylactic treatment immediately. But once a
person starts to show the symptoms, there is little or nothing anybody
can do once the virus has got into the nervous system. That is why you
observe hallucinations, while the person starts to bark like a dog and
the patient will also be afraid of water. The sight of water will set
the patient on edge,’’ he explained.
died and he even spoke with me. Children are the most vulnerable when
it comes to rabies and it is a highly preventable infection. From the
animal angle, there are vaccines to prevent it and also from the human
angle there are also relevant vaccines. Once you know there is a dog
bite, you have to be given prophylactic treatment immediately. But once a
person starts to show the symptoms, there is little or nothing anybody
can do once the virus has got into the nervous system. That is why you
observe hallucinations, while the person starts to bark like a dog and
the patient will also be afraid of water. The sight of water will set
the patient on edge,’’ he explained.
Mobolaji said the hospital exhumed the
dog’s corpse for medical examination. “We are through with the first
phase and we are waiting for the confirmatory result showing that the
dog, indeed, had rabies,’’ he added.
dog’s corpse for medical examination. “We are through with the first
phase and we are waiting for the confirmatory result showing that the
dog, indeed, had rabies,’’ he added.
The animal doctor also expressed
concerns about the indiscriminate rate of dog ownership without a
commensurate monitoring efforts from government. He called on relevant
authorities to establish an animal registry and a tagging system as a
precondition for pet ownership in the state.
concerns about the indiscriminate rate of dog ownership without a
commensurate monitoring efforts from government. He called on relevant
authorities to establish an animal registry and a tagging system as a
precondition for pet ownership in the state.
He further explained that an annual
anti-rabies vaccination is compulsory for dogs, adding that Jerry could
have been infected by other dogs, chimpanzees and bats in the area.
anti-rabies vaccination is compulsory for dogs, adding that Jerry could
have been infected by other dogs, chimpanzees and bats in the area.
“We asked Musa’s uncle if there are bats
in the areas and he said yes, that he had once sighted a dead bat in
his compound. The area may be a migratory route for bats. This is one of
the reasons why we are saying let us have an animal registry in the
state. Even if a dog gets lost, it will be easier to reunite the dog
with its owner through the tagging system,’’ he asserted.
in the areas and he said yes, that he had once sighted a dead bat in
his compound. The area may be a migratory route for bats. This is one of
the reasons why we are saying let us have an animal registry in the
state. Even if a dog gets lost, it will be easier to reunite the dog
with its owner through the tagging system,’’ he asserted.
Meanwhile the Ogundiran family has
vanished from the Estate. Silence greeted our correspondent when she
visited their apartment. A look around the compound however showed an
abandoned sign post indicating Mr. Ogundiran as a bore hole specialist.
He picked his calls when our correspondent called the line embossed on
the signpost and his apartment.
vanished from the Estate. Silence greeted our correspondent when she
visited their apartment. A look around the compound however showed an
abandoned sign post indicating Mr. Ogundiran as a bore hole specialist.
He picked his calls when our correspondent called the line embossed on
the signpost and his apartment.
“Normally, I don’t speak to journalists
but I have to in this matter. Nobody knew the dog had rabies because it
was not manifesting any symptoms. We were not even aware that the dog
bit the boy. We only knew that it bit Aishat around 9 pm. It was even
its claws and we treated the wound that night. It is most unfortunate
that this had to happen,’’ he said.
but I have to in this matter. Nobody knew the dog had rabies because it
was not manifesting any symptoms. We were not even aware that the dog
bit the boy. We only knew that it bit Aishat around 9 pm. It was even
its claws and we treated the wound that night. It is most unfortunate
that this had to happen,’’ he said.