By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The family of two deceased brothers, Micheal Alao (48) and David Alao (44), has launched an emergency response education NGO following their tragic deaths, one from armed robbery and the other from cardiac arrest.
The newly established NGO, Michael and David Alao Memorial Emergency Preparedness (M & DAMEP), was named in memory of the brothers and aims to address the urgent need for emergency response awareness and training in Nigeria.
Speaking during a Basic Life Support and Emergency Preparedness training session held Saturday in Kaduna, Mrs. Bosede Arogunjo, a relative of the deceased, narrated the painful events that led to the brothers’ deaths.
According to her, David Alao was shot in the chest and abdomen during a failed armed robbery attempt in Lagos in November 2022.
“There was no trained medical personnel or first responders on site for nearly an hour. The delay proved fatal,” Arogunjo said.
“By the time he reached the hospital, it was too late he passed away before surgery could be performed.”
In a similarly heartbreaking incident, Micheal Alao reportedly suffered a heart attack on May 25, 2025, while at a recreational club in the early hours of the morning.
“In a desperate attempt to help, a bystander poured cold water on him, which unfortunately sent him into shock. He died before receiving proper medical care,” she recounted.
Arogunjo stressed that both deaths could potentially have been prevented with timely and appropriate emergency intervention. She said the family’s experience revealed a critical gap in emergency preparedness and response in Nigeria.
“Our mission is to equip individuals and communities with life-saving skills such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), basic life support, and emergency response to situations like accidents, fire outbreaks, gunshots, and medical crises,” she said.
She explained that the NGO will offer training to individuals, schools, businesses, community groups, and corporate organizations through coordinated programs and outreach activities.
The highpoint of the event was a practical CPR demonstration using a mannequin, led by Dr. Ifeanyi Aghadi, an anesthesiologist and emergency medical expert.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Peter Enesi, a consultant surgeon, delivered a health talk focused on common health conditions in middle-aged adults.
