“It was too late for me to jump away,” Okon recounted from his hospital bed. “The driver hit me, crushing my two legs.”
By Our Reporter
A dark cloud hangs over the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) as senior journalist Peter Okon battles for recovery after being struck by a reckless driver on January 20th, 2024.
Okon, the News Director at the station, was enjoying a morning jog with his wife near the Calabar-Calabar roundabout on the Murtala Mohammed Highway when a driver, reportedly distracted by his phone and a female companion, careened off the road and into them.
Pushing his wife to safety, Okon took the brunt of the impact, suffering severe injuries to both legs.
Rushed first to the Navy Reference Hospital and then transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Male Orthopaedic Ward.
“It was too late for me to jump away,” Okon recounted from his hospital bed. “The driver hit me, crushing my two legs.”
The financial burden is adding to his physical plight. Already having spent heavily on tests and other medical expenses, Okon faces daunting costs for his ongoing treatment.
NUJ Chairman Appeals For Support
Comrade Gill Nsa-Abasi, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State Council, has issued an urgent appeal for help.
“We are calling on fellow journalists and the general public to assist Peter and his family at this trying time,” he stressed.
While the driver has reportedly offered some support, it falls far short of what is needed.
Nsa-Abasi clarifies that “contrary to reports, the driver did not run away,” but emphasizes the significant financial gap that necessitates public support.
Mr. Peter can be reached through his mobile number +2348037929718.