The Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Mr. David Anyaele, has shared the harrowing journey that has shaped his life and advocacy, revealing how President Bola Tinubu intervened to restore some semblance of normalcy after a brutal attack during the Sierra Leone civil war.

The Ordeal

In 1999, while on a business trip to Freetown, Mr. Anyaele was targeted by fighters of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), an insurgent group that terrorised Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002. According to his account, he was singled out for being Nigerian. Despite his pleas, his attackers amputated both his hands. He was left bleeding and abandoned until Nigerian-led ECOMOG troops discovered him. They rushed him to hospital, preventing what could have been fatal consequences.

He recounts that the moment changed his life irrevocably. He suddenly found himself part of the community of persons with disabilities, facing stigma, isolation, neglect, and many wondering what the future might bring.

The Search for Help & Rejection

After his case was publicised, Mr. Anyaele wrote to various governments, including those in the Southeast of Nigeria, seeking support. Their responses ranged from silence to outright rejection. Despite being televised and known, nobody came forward to help him with the medical and rehabilitation costs.

Tinubu’s Intervention & Rehabilitation

Desperate, he turned to Bola Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos State. Tinubu directed that doctors examine Mr. Anyaele, and based on medical advice, overseas treatment was arranged. This led to his rehabilitation in Germany where he was fitted with artificial hands. He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the people of Lagos State for their hospitality and for restoring his hope.

Reflections & Call for Inclusion

Mr. Anyaele lamented the widespread discrimination persons with disabilities endure, particularly in Igboland. He called on Igbos not to ostracise disabled individuals but to welcome them with empathy, pointing out that disability can affect anyone at any time.

He also praised Governor Alex Otti for setting up the Abia State Disability Commission, and urged Governor Peter Mbah to establish something similar in Enugu State.