A 19-year-old student, Ikechukwu Oke, has been hospitalised in Ebonyi State after embarking on a prolonged 41-day dry fasting.
Tribune Online reports that Oke who hails from Ohataekwe in Umuezeokaoha community, Ezza north local government of the state is currently undergoing treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA), Abakaliki.
It was learnt that Oke, who fends for himself, hawks sachet water and sausage rolls in Onitsha, Anambra, after every academic term in the school calendar, to raise his school fees.
It was also gathered that after several complaints of hardship in the family and attempts to get assistance from government and private individuals failed, Oke embarked on 41-day praying and fasting to seek God’s intervention.
He was said to have collapsed at the weekend after the 41-day prayer and fasting he observed on a mountain in Abakaliki metropolis.
It was learnt that Oke had sneaked to the mountain to commence the dry fasting on July 23, without informing his mother and elder brother, Obinna, who live with him in Ishieke.
It was further gathered that some of his prayer colleagues hurriedly took him to the elder brother who consulted a patent medicine dealer who administered drip and some drugs in an attempt to revive him.
Also, it was learnt that his elder brother, who is a mechanic said nobody was aware of Ikechukwu’s action, describing it as “shocking”, “bizarre” and “suicidal.”
It was also gathered that a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Peter Edeh, who was not satisfied with the treatment, mobilised people to take Oke to AE-FUTHA for proper medical attention.
