The Nigerian embassy in China has asked the Chinese authorities to investigate allegations that

police in the southern city of Guangzhou used “high-handed” tactics in arresting a Nigerian

citizen who later died in custody.

Witnesses say Celestine Elebechi, born in 1984, fell into a coma after he was beaten on June 18

as he intervened in a dispute between a Chinese motorcycle rider and another Nigerian,

Ademola Oladele. Hundreds of Africans in Guangzhou, blocked traffic and surrounded the

police station to protest Elebechi’s death and to demand an investigation.

According to the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, the dead African, “suddenly fell unconscious” at

a police station and died after medical efforts failed” The Africans protest comes ahead of a

summit between China and Africa that China is expected to host in July, and amid a crackdown

by Beijing and Shanghai on undocumented immigrants.

Recently, an African television station recently exposed how about 6,000 Nigerians are

languishing in Chinese prisons in a special documentary. China recently launched a 100-day

campaign to “clean out” undocumented immigrants in the cities and has stepped up police

checks on expatriates.

A NIGERIAN GIRL, WHO BECAME A MEDICAL DOCTOR AT TWENTY-ONE.

Born and raised in England and of Nigerian parentage, Ola Orekunrin made history when at the

age of 21, she became a medical doctor thus becoming one of the youngest medical doctors in

England. She started her medical degree at the University of York and passed with flying colors.

She was raised by foster white parents and went to a primary school run by Catholic nuns and

her family often struggled to make ends meet. According to her, her foster mother, Dorren was

a tremendous influence in shaping her life.

Orekunrin is founder of The Flying Doctor, the first air ambulance service in West Africa. She

was prompted to start the new venture after her younger sister died of anemia. Her sister was

always in and out of hospitals and eventually died for lack of availability of an air ambulance.

But starting this venture was not easy.

She gave up a high flying job in England and her dreams of becoming the president of the

British Medical Association and minister for the conservative party and moved to Nigeria.

According to her, “I was rejected more times than I can remember.” “Sometimes, I would spend

hours waiting in an office only to be told to come back the next day and then be turned down,”

she said.

“One time, on my way to Ondo State, I was robbed of all I had and was told by my companion,

who was travelling with me, not to speak or else my accent would give me away and be the

basis for my kidnap. Even in the face of difficulties, I was able to get some funding in addition to

what I had saved up.”

“We are completely physician-led and adhere to the highest standards of medical practice

supported by the East Anglian Air Ambulance in the United Kingdom. Our mission is simple-to

provide the best possible standard of health care to all,” She said.

When asked if poor Nigerians would be able to benefit from her service, she said: “What I do

hope is that more states will take up cover as well as making it increasingly available to the

common man. I know that as Nigeria starts to take health care reform more seriously, this will

begin to happen.”

Olakunle O. Bolarinwa,

Is a Nightline Family Member Of The Voice Of America {VOA}.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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