Published 11th Mar, 2021

By Socrates Mbamalu

Since the day he was shot by the Nigeria Police of Area C, Surulere, on October 21, 2020, Ridwan Oshodi’s life has not gone back to normal. While others have managed to move on with their lives, Ridwan still lays in bed paralysed. He stopped using a catheter in February but instead of passing urine he’s been passing blood for a week.

FIJ had reported on Ridwan in January, highlighting the aftermath of the EndSARS protests and how it affected many, especially those from low-income areas. Ridwan was shot in the stomach and the bullet hit his backbone. He has not been able to go to work, walk, or do anything on his own.

In the single room he shares with his mother, brother and sister, bottles of medicine, disinfectant, and bandages occupy a table. When FIJ visited Ridwan this morning to follow up on him, he said he was losing weight and felt that blood was not reaching his legs.

His mother, Muibat Oshodi, expressed concerns at the new development. “He has been urinating blood for the past seven days,” she told FIJ. She had hoped the only focus would be on physiotherapy, but her son’s recent condition has left her more scared.

Ridwan was first hospitalized last year from October 21 to December 10, his mum telling FIJ they would be going for a scan to determine the cause of Ridwan urinating blood.

Asides being unable to return to work as she used to, she has dedicated the past few months to seeing her son get better.

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