“I Sleep In My Car, Yet They Threaten Me With Prison” — 70-Year-Old Sick Bayelsa Pensioner Cries Out To Diri: “I’m Not Asking For Money, Give Me Shelter”
By Passman Akpos
A 70-year-old pensioner and Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) enrollee, Elder Graham Amada Igoinfa, has appealed to the Bayelsa State Government, health authorities and other relevant institutions for urgent humanitarian intervention, protection and assistance after alleging that he has been homeless and sleeping in his vehicle while receiving medical treatment in Yenagoa.
Igoinfa, who made the appeal in an incident report dated Saturday, September 12, 2026, said he had been homeless since June 6 and had been sleeping in his vehicle while accessing outpatient treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.
According to him, he is being treated for hypertension, bilateral swollen legs, chest pains and post-surgery hernia pains.
He further stated that he was admitted at FMC Yenagoa between September 1 and 3, 2026, after recording a blood pressure reading of 182/104.
The elderly pensioner alleged that he had repeatedly been asked to leave the hospital premises despite his vulnerable condition and ongoing need for medical care.
Igoinfa said that on September 7, FMC security personnel informed him that they were “waiting for final order” for his ejection and presented a letter for him to sign, which he said he declined to sign.
He stated that he was subsequently attended to by the hospital’s Social Welfare Department, where he said he was advised to seek assistance from BHIS and the Bayelsa State Government.
According to his account, he was again asked to vacate the FMC premises on September 11, prompting him to relocate temporarily to the Bayelsa State Secretariat Complex.
He alleged that while at the Secretariat, the Head of Security approached his vehicle at about 9:07 p.m. and advised him to park in a darker area.
Igoinfa said he preferred to remain in a floodlit location because of safety concerns.
The pensioner also alleged that while waiting for his Legal Aid Counsel at FMC on September 11, a member of the hospital’s legal department advised him to leave the premises.
He claimed that he was warned that his continued presence could result in him being arrested and charged with “nuisance”, while allegedly being told that “Okaka prison is the place to keep me” pending his court matters.
Igoinfa further alleged that a security personnel in front of the FMC Emergency Ward subsequently insulted him, allegedly referring to him as a “useless homeless old man” and threatening that he could be charged with nuisance and taken to Okaka Prison if he failed to leave.
These allegations have not been independently verified by Tarakirivoice, and the individuals or institutions mentioned were not quoted as responding to the claims in the documents made available to this newspaper.
In another development on the morning of September 12, Igoinfa said he left the Secretariat Complex after being informed that he had been permitted to spend the night there without prior authorization from the appropriate authority.
He said he subsequently proceeded to the Specialist Hospital near Government House, Yenagoa, where security personnel allegedly permitted him to park close to the security post and offered to provide water for him to freshen up.
Igoinfa said he intended to remain within the vicinity until Monday, September 14, when government offices resume normal working activities, to seek appropriate guidance and authorization.
The pensioner said he had formally written to the Bayelsa State Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Health, Federal Ministry of Health, FMC Yenagoa, BHIS and other relevant authorities requesting urgent intervention.
His demands include protection from harassment and intimidation, 14 days of humanitarian consideration to enable him secure accommodation, assistance with continuity of medical care, a Social Welfare and medical report from FMC, BHIS support and an administrative review of his situation.
“I am not refusing to leave. I am asking for dignity, health and shelter,” Igoinfa stated in his appeal.
He also said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had assigned Mrs Juliana Isolo, Esq., as his Legal Aid Counsel.
He disclosed that he has pending court matters scheduled for September 24 and October 19, 2026, respectively.
The elderly pensioner appealed particularly to Governor Douye Diri, the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for Health, BHIS authorities, FMC Yenagoa management and other public institutions to intervene before his situation deteriorates further.
“I am not asking for money. I am asking for protection from harassment and intimidation while I seek accommodation,” he said.
Igoinfa’s appeal raises broader questions about how vulnerable elderly patients without stable accommodation are handled by public healthcare institutions, particularly where they require continuing medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report, Tarakirivoice had not received an official response from FMC Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Government or BHIS concerning the allegations and requests contained in Igoinfa’s incident report.
Tarakirivoice will provide an update if the relevant authorities respond.
