By Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—IRKED by the death of one Miss Merit Akpotowho, a female student who was shot by robbers, hundreds of students of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, weekend, besieged the General Hospital in the community, protesting alleged negligence of duty by the hospital’s staff.

The deceased, an ND I student of Accountancy, who only resumed studies two weeks ago, it was gathered, was shot at 8.30p.m. by robbers, who attempted to dispossess her of her mobile phone, close to her residence in the Orhamudhu quarters of the community.

One of the students said: “She was using her phone close to her residence and the robbers, who were riding on a motorcycle, noticed the light from her phone and immediately accosted her and demanded for the phone. She threw the phone into a nearby bush and the robbers shot her on the leg.

“She was rushed to the hospital by sympathisers. But due to negligence on the part of the hospital’s staff, she died and we are very bitter about what has happened.”

Speaking on the development, the Dean of Students’ Affairs of the polytechnic, Mr. James Ighoroje, claimed the deceased was rushed to the general hospital on account of its closeness to the scene of the incident.

He said: “When they arrived at the general hospital, there was no doctor on duty.  Later, they claimed that they had no blood and oxygen to resuscitate her. They left her till about 12.30a.m. the following day and when they noticed that she was getting pale, they referred her to Oleh General Hospital.

“When it was time to take her to Oleh, they said they did not have ambulance. It was later that the patrol vehicle of the vigilante team was used to rush her to Oleh. The students have been complaining of similar experiences in the hospital.

“Besides, the doctors have been saying we should be taking our students, who are in need of medical attention, to the health centre in the polytechnic.”

We did our best—HOSPITAL

Reacting to the allegations yesterday, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Chuks Ossai, said the girl was attended to and was referred to the general hospital in Oleh “when the case went beyond the doctors and beyond the hospital because we do not even have oxygen to resuscitate the girl.

“The police, who rushed the girl here, told me the doctor and the nurses were on ground and did their best.

“It is the Student Affairs Officer, who does not know his duties, that incited the students.”