MCL editor undergoes surgery at Muhimbili

Dar es Salaam. Mwananchi Communications Limited assistant web editor, who on Thursday was shot by thugs and robbed off Sh2 million in cash, was yesterday operated on his left hand at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (Moi).

Mr Patrick Pella (pictured below) was first rushed to Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala after he was shot in a robbery incident committed at broad day light by two thugs who were in a motorcycle a short distance from Tabata Relini area.

He was robbed moments after withdrawing the money from NMB Mandela Road branch.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, a relative to Mr Pella, Mr Amani Ephrahim, said the operation went well and he (Mr Pella) was recuparating after the operation.

“He has been operated for three hours today. He entered the theatre at around 9am and he came out at around 12am,” he said.

He said doctors at Amana decided to refer him to Moi after X-ray tests showed that his bones were crushed immensely.

“But we thank God that he is doing well because tests shows that he can move his fingers meaning that no vital muscles have been damaged,” said Mr Ephrahim.

Speaking at Amana on Thursday shortly after he was received, Mr Pella said the robbers who shot him had apparently trailed him after he left the bank. “I tried to hire a motorcycle to take me to Ubungo outside the bank but first four riders refused. I don’t know why. It was the fifth rider who agreed to take me albeit unwillingly. But we drove only about two hundred metres before I was attacked,” he said.

He said as they were waiting for vehicles before entering a main road, two people in another motorcycle stopped and one of them alighted before ordering him to hand over the money.

“Before I said a word he pulled out a pistol, pointed it at me and said ‘give me the money’, so I gave him the bag but as soon as he grabbed it he aimed the gun at my stomach but I leaned back quickly and the bullet hit by left arm,” he said.