By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin – The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Wednesday appealed for financial and material support for the members of the family of Eddie Bekom, its Vice-President (South-South).
The SWAN Secretary-General, Olawale Alabi, said inm a statement the the Bekom family members were involved in a gas explosion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at the Bekom family home in an estate in Ikom, Cross River State on Saturday.
“There is now an urgent need of about N10 million for treatment and rehabilitation.
“The explosion severely burnt Eddie, his wife and his four children, and they were first treated at a hospital in Ikom.
“They are now receiving further treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki for second degree burns.
“Unfortunately, one of the Bekom children has now died as a result of the severe burns, and probably due to the problem of finance, going by the fact that about N10 million is now needed for not only the operation but rehabilitation for them all,” Alabi said in the statement.
He added that SWAN had already swung into action in trying to mobilise financial support.
“We thereby urge all our friends to come to our aid, as we believe their support will help in a considerably long way to raise the sum of N10 million.
“Please, all contributions and financial support in this regard should go into the Association’s bank account at Area 7 Garki in Abuja.
“It has the name `Sports Writers Association of Nigeria’, and the number is 1010503853,’’ Alabi said.