A 39-year–old man, Joseph Orkuma, who has been missing since January 1994, was yesterday reunited with his family after living a prodigal life.
Orkuma, who hails from Tongov Amaagu in Katsina-Ala local Government Area of Benue State was picked unconscious in Jabi,? Abuja, and taken to Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja with the help of the Nigeria Police.
Joseph, who is the only son of his parents, could neither talk nor open his eyes at the time he was brought to the hospital. He later regained? consciousness after receiving medical treatment from the hospital.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP, Joseph’s brother-in-law, Mr. Aye Ishoribo, said the reunion was the best thing to happen to his family since 1994.
Joseph further claimed that Orkuma left the house (Katsina-Ala) since January 1994 and never returned until he was discovered.
He added that? the family thought he was dead as efforts to locate? his whereabouts? did not yield positive results.
Ishoribo further told LEADERSHIP that Joseph’s parents died during the search for him.
He said, “My brother, we are so happy today in reuniting with Joseph because he left home since January 1994 and never return home.
We have been looking for him everywhere but could not locate his whereabouts. In fact, my wife, who is the younger sister,?? thought that he is dead since all efforts to locate him proved abortive. In fact, both parents died when they could not see their only son.
When I heard the news, I could not believe it because nobody can believe that a man that left home for 19 years without finding his track home can resurface.
“We will throw a big party for him because the whole community never believes Joseph is still alive.? We are grateful to you (LEADERSHIP correspondent who played active part in locating him) and the hospital management for saving our brother”.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital, Mr. Tony Momoh,? stated that? Joseph was lucky to be alive on the grounds that? if he had spent one more night on the street, he could have died.
The CMD added that the hospital management had spent so much money on drugs and other facilities to take care of Joseph, saying that? the development was? apart from other donations by some individuals who were touched? by his condition.