By Correspondent in Awka
Dr Flora Ilonzo, founder, Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration (CPHA),Awka in Anambra state said it was monkey that escaped from her centre and attacked a school girl and not baboon as being speculated in some quarters in the state.
Ilonzo,who cleared the air in a statement she made available to Newsmen in Awka, described the the allegation in some media outfits of escaped that baboon from her school that attacked a child as unfounded.
She said it was a monkey that escaped from her centre when its cage was being cleaned on Wednesday morning and attacked a student but had been re-caged.
“We were cleaning the monkey’s cage Wednesday morning, unfortunately for us the monkey ran out and bite a child that was going to school.
“Her father came to my Compound to ask me for the name of the injection to be used for his daughters treatment.
“She was taken to Assumpta hospital and the doctor ask him to come to me so that I will tell him the name of the injection to be used.
“I went to that hospital immediately and showed them the Anti -Rabies injection. I also went by myself in search for the injection but couldn’t find it in Awka.
“I ordered it from Onitsha for #18,500 and went to the hospital to see the victim and the doctor, to ensure that they have gotten the injection but the doctor said that they still needed it.
“ I assured them to calm down, that I have made arrangements for the injection to be delivered as soon as possible.
“ When the injection I ordered arrived, I gave it to them and they injected the girl and promised to discharge her in the evening which they did after injecting her with the Anti -Rabies injection.
“The child has also been discharged from the hospital. All I pray is for the girl to be healed,” she said .
A doctor, who did not want his name on print from Assumpta hospital confirmed the incidents and said that the child has been discharged from the hospital.
However, in a swift reaction,CSP Haruna Muhammed, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in the state, in a statement, corroborated the story that it was baboon that escaped from CPHA.
He said that on Feb.10 at about 8:a.m, there was a report at B’ Division, Awka that a Baboon at the Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration, under the management of Mrs Flora Ilonzo ‘f’ of Agu-Awka, escaped from the cage and inflicted injury on one Miss Chekwube Osita Dinma, aged 13 years of same address on her legs.
“The Area Commander Awka Metro, Mr Yemi Ajayi ACP, visited the scene of the incident, adding that the injured victim was taken to the hospital, treated and discharged while the gorilla was returned to a more secured cage for public safety.
“Consequently, the owner of the centre Ilonzo’s statement was taken under caution and she was granted bail on self-recognition.
“The statement of the victim’s father has equally been recorded and investigation is still ongoing,” Muhammed said.
He said that the command was collaborating with relevant government agencies to ensure that the animals at the centre were securely and kept properly to prevent the repeat of the incident.
