Dr Flora Ilonzo, founder, Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration (CPHA), Anambra State, has denied allegations that a gorilla which escaped from her her centre to attack a school child.
Ilonzo said this in a statement made available through her media aide, Mr Okechukwu Onugbue, on Friday, in Awka, Anambra state.
She refuted the allegations, saying instead it was a monkey which escaped when its cage was being cleaned on Wednesday morning, that attacked a student.
She said, however, that the monkey has since been re-caged.
“We were cleaning the monkey’s cage on Wednesday morning, unfortunately for us the monkey ran out and bit a girl 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 daughter’s treatment. She was taken to Assumpta Hospital and the doctor asked him to come to me so that I will tell him the name of the injection to be used,” she said.
I went to that hospital immediately and showed them the anti-rabies injection. I also went by myself in search of the injection but could not find it in Awka.
“I ordered the injection from Onitsha, for N18,500, 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 need it. I urged 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. The child has also been discharged from the hospital. All I pray is for the girl to be healed,” she said.
A doctor at the Assumpta hospital, who does not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident and said the child has been discharged from the hospital.
In a swift response, Mr Haruna Muhammed, CSP Anambra police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in a statement, corroborated the media story that a gorilla had escaped from CPHA and injured a school child.
The statement further said the command was collaborating with relevant government agencies in order to ensure that the animals at the Centre are securely kept to prevent a repeat of the incident.
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