Kaduna: An 18-year-old victim of a violent phone-snatching attack, Bashir Kabir, has expressed gratitude to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, for saving his life after he sustained a severe neck injury during the incident. Kabir, a resident of Unguwan Shanu in Kaduna, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that he was attacked on May 30, while crossing the Sultan Pedestrian Bridge in Kaduna metropolis.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kabir described how two hoodlums accosted him, stabbed him in the neck with a sharp iron object, and fled with his mobile phone. Concerned passers-by immediately came to his rescue, rushing him to a surgical centre for emergency treatment before he was referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) facility and later transferred to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for specialised care.
Kabir commended the hospital’s management and medical personnel for their prompt intervention, professionalism, and dedication, which he said played a crucial role in his recovery. He expressed his appreciation to Almighty God, the hospital, and all the medical personnel who took care of him, acknowledging that their efforts saved his life and ensured he received the necessary treatment.
The teenager disclosed that he did not pay for the surgery performed on him, describing the gesture as a demonstration of compassion and commitment to humanity. Kabir mentioned that he was recovering steadily and had no major health challenges apart from the injuries sustained during the attack.
Kabir appealed to the youth involved in criminal activities to abandon violence and embrace productive ventures, noting that criminal acts had brought untold hardship to many innocent families. He also urged security agencies to intensify efforts to combat violent crimes and improve public safety.
Speaking on the patient’s treatment, the Chief Medical Director of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, Brig.-Gen. Godwin Ogoh, stated that the facility remained committed to saving lives regardless of patients’ financial circumstances. Ogoh explained that the patient was referred to the hospital after receiving initial treatment elsewhere due to the complexity of the injury.
Ogoh described the hospital’s philosophy as centred on “service before money,” emphasizing that every patient deserved prompt medical attention, especially during emergencies. He disclosed that a multidisciplinary team comprising a neurosurgeon, ENT surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon, consultant anaesthetist, perioperative nurses, and anaesthetic nurses were assembled to carry out the emergency surgery.
The operation was successfully completed despite operational challenges, including a temporary power outage that required support from standby personnel. Following the surgery, the patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for close monitoring before being transferred to the ward, where he is currently recuperating.
Ogoh further revealed that the hospital eventually waived the cost of the surgery after determining that the patient and his family could not afford the expenses associated with the highly specialised procedure. He reiterated the hospital’s commitment to providing humanitarian healthcare services, adding that victims of emergencies, including kidnapping and violent attacks, would continue to receive prompt medical attention irrespective of their ability to pay.
NAN recalls that on June 7, 2025, a naval officer, Lt.-Cdr. Buba Moses, who was attending the Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, was allegedly stabbed to death by suspected phone snatchers at Kawo Bridge in Kaduna.