Ogboji Killings: Nwifuru donates N60m to bereaved families as remains of 11 victims are buried

It was outpour of emotions in Ebonyi state as remains of the eleven casualties of the Ogboji massacre in Orumba South local government area were laid to rest.

 

The Caskets bearing the remains of the dead victims were on Thursday displayed for a state commendation service by the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The event was held at the Unity Square, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.

 

Recall that unidentified gun men on Monday, 30th June attacked Ebonyi indigenes in their meeting venue and opened fire on them, killing some and seriously wounding others.

 

The total death was later put at eleven.

 

Speaking during the event, Governor Francis Nwifuru described the incident as tragic and unacceptable.

 

He described as most saddening the fact that none of the attackers have been identified and arrested to face the law.

 

He dismissed insinuations in some quarters alleging that the attackers were fellow Ebonyi people in Anambra, stating that preliminary investigation did not link the killers to any Ebonyi dialect.

 

Nwifuru added: “For me, this is not a moment of much talking.

 

“When the time comes, I will have much to say.

 

“I am seriously in pains at this moment.”

 

The Governor pronounced a N10m assistance to one of the victim’s children who had been rendered orphans, having lost their mother earlier before the ugly incident.

 

To the other families, the Governor gave assistance of N5m each to help ameliorate their sufferings.

 

Preaching on the Topic: “Who can be against us”, Rev. Fr. Joseph Orji described those who attack their fellow humans unprovoked as cowards.

 

He assured that death is not always the end but just a transformation, emphasizing that everyone, including the killers are also liable to die.

 

Father Orji, stressed that Jesus did not redeem us to kill others but to be ambassadors of peace and reconcilation, and urged the bereaved families to refrain from vengeance as God has called everyone into reconcilation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

 

Some of the Widows of the slain, Blessing Akam, a mother of three; Anurika Nwafor, mother of four; Nnenna Alegu and Chimara Ofim, a young woman of 20 years who just got married to her husband in 2023 with a suckling baby, lamented that the death of their husbands have thrown them into great hardship and confusion.

 

Ofim who could not hold back her tears said the killers have deprived her of the joy of married life, stating that she had only enjoyed her marriage for just a year before the tragic incident.

 

They pleaded with Ebonyi state government not to abandon them.

 

Others who spoke to newsmen including Paul Ede, Chairman Izzi Progressive union, Onitsha branch; Ifeanyi Oko, Treasurer, Ebonyi youth Forum in Anambra and Barr. Uchenna Ochor, a Board of Trustee member of Ebonyi Youth Forum in Anambra state, appreciated Governor Nwifuru for the deep concern he has continued to show to Ebonyi indigenes in Anambra.

 

Ochor stated that the leaders of Ebonyi people in Anambra have continued to organize themselves to complement the Governor’s efforts at ensuring that peace and calm is maintained and that such incident does not occur again.

 

The slain Ebonyians are Ikechukwu Nwafor, Ebenezer Nwigbo, Uche Alegu, Sunday Offim and Sunday Ugada from Ikwo Local government area; Monday Ofoke, Chideraa Utobo, Clement Ofoke, Chideraa Nwogbala and Sunday Nweke from Izzi LGA and Okechukwu Akam from Ezza North LGA.

 

The remains were later taken by their individual families for burial in their respective homes.