By SUNTV Global Channel
August 7, 2026
Five years after a police bullet left him paralysed, a graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nurdeen Azeez, has appealed for assistance as he battles severe pain and prepares for another spinal surgery.
Azeez, 30, a native of Ibadan, Oyo State, said his life changed forever on August 16, 2021, when he was struck by a bullet during a police operation while travelling on a commercial motorcycle.
According to him, he was heading from Iwo Road to his hostel in the Ijokodo area of Ibadan when heavy traffic forced the motorcycle rider to take another route. Shortly after, gunshots reportedly rang out and a bullet hit his spinal cord.
“I suddenly heard gunshots. A bullet struck my spinal cord, and I immediately collapsed on the motorcycle,” Azeez recalled.
He said a police officer later approached him and asked him to stand up, but he was unable to move because of the severity of his injury.
Following the incident, Azeez was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He said the Oyo State Government later intervened after protests by students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and supported his medical care, including a surgery.
However, he said the assistance stopped after the initial treatment, leaving him to cope with continuous pain, emotional trauma and financial difficulties.
Azeez revealed that after seeking medical advice from a specialist hospital in India, doctors recommended another spinal surgery that could improve his condition. However, he said the cost of the procedure is beyond what his family can afford.
“Living with this spinal injury has been one of the greatest challenges of my life. I have spent years battling pain, emotional trauma and financial hardship,” he said.
The graduate also disclosed that his prolonged health struggles affected his family deeply and that he lost his mother during the period he was battling the aftermath of the injury.
As he approaches the fifth anniversary of the incident, Azeez remains hopeful that he will receive the support needed to access specialised treatment and regain a better quality of life.
He is appealing to individuals, organisations and relevant authorities to assist him in raising funds for the surgery.
