Defying the scorching sun and rowdy scenes daily to hawk bottled water in Ajah, a hustling and bustling axis of Lagos state, life is far from being rosy for Ekuma Jeremiah

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But not even his condition could stop him from helping others.

On Thursday, a video wherein Jeremiah could be seen giving money to some inmates inside a van of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) surfaced online.

In the short clip, shared by Ojo Emmanuel, a photographer, the hawker is seen carrying a crate of bottled water on his head while giving out some of the money he had made.

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According to Emmanuel, the hawker gave out about “70 percent” of what he had on him to the inmates.

 

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A post shared by Ojo Emmanuel | Photographer (@rockyemmyphotography)

Sharing a video of the scene on his Instagram page, Emmanuel wrote: “Just a few minutes at Ajah waiting for the traffic light, bottle water seller shares at least 70% of the cash on him to the immates in this Nigerian correctional service bus.

“I have never been this impressed by such act of love and Generosity, immediately I took his phone no just so I could get his account details later, which I will share here soon (called him a couple of times he is yet to pick up).”

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In an interview, Jeremiah said he gave out the money to the inmates out of pity.

“I was not inspired by anyone. I gave the inmates money out of pity. I didn’t do that because I’ve been to a police station… since I was born, I have not been detained in a police station,” he said.

“Though I am very poor and sell bottled water, I still have my freedom, I can eat whatever I want to eat and go anywhere I want to go, but the prisoners do not have that freedom.

“They are being denied of many things. They cannot make a choice of what to eat, they take whatever is given to them. Sometimes when they crave to sleep, they would be denied but I can sleep whenever I’m tired.

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“So, immediately I saw them, I was touched. I gave the first person N100 then others started begging me for help, so I decided to also give them. Basically, it was due to pity.”

The gesture, which came as a surprise to many Nigerians, has continued to elicit reactions on social media platforms with some users lauding the hawker for his generosity despite his condition.

In a follow-up post, Emmanuel revealed that the hawker had received a donation of N317,000 as of Friday afternoon.

He also disclosed that Jeremiah’s account was flagged due to the fact it was a student account.

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“It’s now time for a status change, thanks to everyone who has been a part of this movement so far. God bless you all,” he wrote.

“I can’t put a figure to how much we have raised yet because I guess his (Jeremiah) account was flagged at about 1pm today immediately he hit 317k cos its a student account.”



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