By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—VICTIMS of the ill-fated Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment which claimed the lives of 18 applicants across the country, yesterday in Benin City, protested alleged failure by the Federal Government to implement the compensation package promised them.

One applicant died while over 20 others were injured in the stampede at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, venue of the exercise in Edo State. Over 20,000 applicants turned up for the test.

President Goodluck Jonathan had, on March 19, directed that three employment slots be reserved for the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede during the recruitment.

He also directed that all those who sustained injuries and were hospitalised be given automatic employment in the service.

The victims, however, alleged that nothing had been heard from the Federal Government regarding its promises to the victims in Edo State, forcing them to take to the streets in Benin City yesterday.

The victims and their families had placards with inscriptions which read, “We are traumatised immigration victims still without jobs,” “Please, allow the souls of the departed NIS recruitment victims to rest in peace” and “Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, we are still waiting for your promise.” They appealed to the Federal Government to fulfill its promise.

One of the victims, Austin Amu, who lost his wife during the exercise, lamented that he and his three children aged eight, five and three, had been languishing in pain since the death of his 27-year-old wife.

Amu, who also participated in the exercise, narrated how he discovered that his wife had died, saying that he had paid several visits to the NIS office, none of which yielded good result.

“Getting to different hospitals, they told me that they had discharged those who were injured. They showed me a list but my wife’s name was not there. When I got to the Specialist Hospital, they told me that the only corpse brought by the NIS had no name. When I insisted on seeing the corpse, I discovered that it was that of my wife. I have visited the NIS office many times but they keep telling me to be patient because there has been no response right from Abuja. That was why I decided to cry out to let the public know my feeling because carrying these children alone is not an easy task for me.”

Another victim, Timothy Omoagbon, said life had been difficult for his family since the incident.  Omoagbon, lamented: t“I saw my wife lying on the ground In fact, my wife collapsed in the stadium. It took the efforts of immigration officials to revive her, pouring water on her before she stood up. But later she started coughing out blood and couldn’t breathe very well. We went to immigration but they told us that they are waiting for directive from Abuja and would let us know when get it. But we have not had anything till now. We are appealing to the President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfil his promise.”