Three Boko Haram victims buried in Anambra

Three persons murdered by people suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect in Bauchi on October 14, 2012, were buried yesterday at Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State amidst tears by family members and sympathizers.

They include 65-year-old businessman, Chief Basil Okonkwo Azodo, his daughter, Ifeoma Azodo, 23 and his apprentice of many years, Sunday Ezechukwu, 21. The sect had earlier killed the first son of Chief Azodo, 31-year-old Christian Nnaemeka Okonkwo on April 18, 2011, also in Bauchi. PA Azodo and his daughter, as well as his apprentice, were allegedly killed on the same spot same day.



Azodo was said to have returned to Anambra State with his entire household when Boko Haram sect started killing Christians in the North and only went back to arrange his belongings for final departure from the northern part of the country when he met his death.

It was a pathetic scene yesterday at the community’s Mgbuke village as the widow of the deceased, Virginia, continued nodding her head ceaselessly and unable to mutter a word, while other people sobbed uncontrollably.

The funeral Mass was conducted by the Vicar of Saint Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Umunnachi, Reverend Fr. John Manafa, assisted by Very Rev Fr. Fred Uche.

Rev Manafa, who delivered the sermon, told the mourners that there was nothing that happens without the knowledge of God, adding that the only regret was that the people died and some people will go to hell fire because of them.

According to him, “we have to be very careful about what we do or say in life, instead of crying for the deceased, we should pray for the repose of their souls, let us stop crying like people without hope.”

The Transition Chairman of Dunukofia Local Government Area, Mr. Onochie Okagbue, said the deceased was a man of the people and man of peace and questioned the much publicized unity of the country, if Nigerians could not feel free in any part of the country.

First daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Blessing Ezemanari, said the family was still mourning the murder of the first son of the family in 2011, only for the head of the family and her sister, along with their apprentice, to be also killed.

“My father just travelled to arrange the final relocation of the entire family and they still assassinated him and my sister and our apprentice,” she lamented.