A 27-years old corps member, Nuraddeen Tahir, who lost his two limbs after two accidents, has asked the government to offer him a job employment. In a chat with The Nation at that who is still recuperating from the second accident

The story of Nuraddeen Tahir is heart-rending. He was born normal like every other child. In 2003 when he was in primary six, he had an accident in Kano State and got his left arm amputated. Penultimate week, he lost the remaining hand to another accident.

The Nation correspondent visited him at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo where he is, receiving treatment yesterday. Tahir sustained deep wounds on his chest and forehead. His right eye was affected too.

Tahir, 27, graduated from the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano. He was posted to serve in Taraba. After the orientation in camp, officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) recommended his redeployment to Kano, given his condition; he had one hand then.

But Tahir insisted serving in Taraba. He wanted to experience a new environment, feel new weather and climate, meet and relate with new people.

So, he was posted to Sardauna at his request. He had wanted to go and climb the breathtaking Mambilla Plateau and see where the sky appears to be kissing the earth. But that was not to be. On his way to Sardauna, at Sibre, just a kilo metre away from the orientation camp, his vehicle had a head-on coalition with a Sharon. There were 17 in the ill-fated bus. One of them died two days after the mishap. Tahir and the 15 others survived. But Tahir’s only hand got battered and was amputated in the hospital at doctor’s advise.

He is now in Amenity ward, having moved from Accident/Emergency and Surgical wards. He seems to be recuperating fast, though he has difficulty speaking and hardly sleeps, particularly at night.

Beyond the wounds, Tahir is depressed, physically and mentally.

The Nation learnt that Taraba State Government is paying his hospital bills and that of the other corps members involved in the accident.

During this reporter’s interface with him, he asked government to give him a job. “I want a job from government,” he said. Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, who visited him during the week, has promised to import artificial limbs from Saudi Arabia for him.

“All the predicaments the accident victims are passing through are as a result of their offer to serve Nigeria. The NYSC must do all it can to put smiles on their faces,” Gen Ibrahim said. Tahir, a holder of BA Islamic Studies, believes the artificial limbs will assist him do some activities by himself, including the work he is expecting from government.