Opeyemi Abolarinwa.

A young deaf man with two broken legs has been left to die by the roadside a few metres away from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Headquarters at Onibueja, Osogbo, sparking outrage among residents of Osun State.

The victim was reportedly knocked down by a vehicle around the Stadium area, Osogbo.

According to information shared by a radio station owner in Osun State, Mr Adedayo Oderinu, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the driver, reportedly a woman who claimed to be a police officer, invited an ambulance to pick the victim.

Instead of taking him to a hospital, the ambulance allegedly dumped him by the roadside where he has remained for about four days without food, water, shelter or medical care.

Oderinu, who raised the alarm on his Facebook page and on his radio programme, said the victim’s disability has compounded his ordeal as he is unable to speak or give details of himself or his family.

“I have a major problem on my hands and I am unsure of how to proceed. The victim, a deaf young man, had both his legs broken in the accident, but is unable to give details due to his disability,” Oderinu wrote.

He lamented that public hospitals in the state are on strike, making it difficult to secure urgent care for the victim.

“As we speak, the guy is still there, after about four days without food, shelter, or water, and left to a very harsh fate,” he added.

The broadcaster expressed fear that the prolonged neglect may cost the victim his legs.

“How do we get this guy into a hospital when state hospitals are on strike? If we get him into any hospital, the fact that he has spent so much time without care may mean he has lost the use of those legs. If the legs are amputated, how does he survive?”

“Since the guy can’t talk, who takes responsibility for him going forward, if we ever get him care? Government support is his best bet, but can we ever get him government support, and quick?”

Oderinu also condemned the alleged action of the driver, saying, “As for that driver, I hope (she) suffers the consequences of her wickedness alone, so that her offsprings don’t suffer for something they knew nothing about.”

In a later update around 10:20pm on Wednesday, Oderinu disclosed that the victim had been moved from the spot with the help of the Police.

“We finally got him moved from there with the help of the Police. Now, we hope we can get him into a government hospital,” he said.

The incident has once again exposed the painful realities of Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, in Osun State and Nigeria at large — where disability often means voicelessness, invisibility, abandonment and denial of justice.

For a deaf young man, an accident that should have attracted emergency response became a death sentence, first by an alleged hit-and-run driver who claims to be a law enforcement officer, and then by a system that allegedly dumped him by the roadside to die.

Residents who reacted to the post called on the state government to be responsive.

One of them, Odebode Isaiah Abisola, wrote: “I respectfully urge ES Ayobami Oyetunde of the Osun State Bureau of Persons with Disabilities and the NSCDC Disability Desk Officer, Osun State, to urgently intervene and ensure this young deaf man receives immediate medical attention and necessary support. Beyond medical care, he needs protection, rehabilitation and long-term assistance. Please, let us not allow him to suffer or lose his life through neglect. His disability should never be a reason to abandon him. He deserves care, dignity and justice”.

CALL TO ACTION:

The Osun State Ministry of Social Needs, the Bureau of Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Health, the NSCDC and the Osun State Police Command must rise to this situation.

The victim needs immediate emergency medical care, even if it means moving him to a private facility at government expense while public hospitals are on strike, feeding, shelter, sign language interpretation, and identification of his family.

Beyond this case, the government must investigate the alleged conduct of the driver and the ambulance crew who reportedly abandoned an accident victim. The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, NEMSAS, must not allow its ambulances to become tools of abandonment.

A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. This young deaf Nigerian must not be allowed to lose his legs or his life because he cannot speak.