From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Ukawu community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was the worst hit by the recent terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. Some persons from Ezza and Izzi areas of the state also allegedly died in the disaster.
At least 10 persons from the community were directly affected by the calamity as four died on the spot. The victims were Chukwudi Onuoha, 58, his wife, Deborah, 52, Chukwuemeka Fabian Nweke, 22, and Kennedy Chukwudi, six, while the casualties included Chukwudi Eze, Ifeanyi Nweke, Chukwuebuka Nweke and others.
Worshippers at the church were attacked by persons suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Sunday, June 5, 2022, leaving over 40 dead and many wounded following a mass shooting and bomb blast.
There was pandemonium in the community once news filtered that terrorists bombed the church because several Ukawu people living in Owo worship at the parish.
A community leader and spokesman of the affected families, Osmond Igwe, told Daily Sun that they were yet to recover from the sorrow and pain inflicted on them by the dastardly act, almost four months after.
He recalled how tears flowed freely when the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Onuoha were buried at their Onunwankwo Amaofia Ukawu family compound on Sunday, June 19.
Natives of the village could not control their tears as the bodies of the couple were lowered into their graves in a requiem presided by the Priest of Stella Maris Parish, Rev. Father Anthony Ajah. The occasion was every inch solemn, gloomy and tearful.
The couple’s bodies arrived in Ebonyi State at about 2am and were buried at noon of the same day.
About a month later, it was yet again a solemn moment in the community as it buried another victim of the Owo attack, 22-year-old Fabian Nweke.
Daily Sun learnt that the remains of one of the victims, Chikamso Chukwudi, were interred in Owo.
Igwe says calamity a big shock, terrible and devastating to Ukawu community
“We were in a state of mourning; everyone was in a complete state of mourning. It was a great pain because these were breadwinners in their respective families. The ugly incident caused serious worry and confusion in the community. To be candid it was a very terrible day for us,” he said.
In addition to the four victims that were buried, Igwe further disclosed: “They were other people that were affected like Ifeanyi Nweke that had a bullet wound on his chest, Chukwuebuka Nweke also had a bullet wound on his hand while Chukwudi Eze sustained bullet wound that pierced through his stomach to his back. He is still at the hospital; he needs serious surgery.”
Speaking at the burial of the couple, he stated that the only cause of their death was that they were Nigerians and the country had an irresponsible government.
He said: “If you hear of any killing by terrorists in any part of Nigeria, sympathise with the victims. You may never can tell if any of them is your blood relative; little did I know that the killings in faraway Ondo State will affect my family.
“What baffles me is that upon all the series of killings of innocent people in this country, the powers-that-be have never deemed it necessary to change the security architectures.
“My greatest worry is that these monsters will continue in power because they have enough money to buy the electorate.”
Igwe accused the Ebonyi State Government of insensitivity to the plights of its citizens who suffered untold calamity in another land, noting that support only came from the Ondo State Government and the Catholic Church, which took substantial care of the medical bills.
He noted that N250,000 was also provided for family of each victim; hence, they got N500,000 in respect of the deceased couple.
“That is the only assistance received so far for the ones that died. As for the Ebonyi State Government, we have not heard from them not even condolence message to the families of the victims.
“Those of them that are still in the hospital, honestly, we are handicapped financially on how to bring them out of the hospital or to foot the bills that have accrued in terms of their treatment. We are pleading for financial assistance from non-governmental organizations and the government, especially the Ebonyi State Government whose citizens were affected,” Igwe pleaded.
Justifying why the affected families needed assistance, Igwe said that most children of the Onuohas are still in school while the older ones “are not nothing doing anything serious. The parents were the breadwinners for the family, so the children are still floating and struggling to survive.”
However, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for Ebonyi in 2023, Professor Benard Odoh and his running mate, Dr. Nkata Chuku, led the APGA family to Ukawu for Nweke’s funeral where the team consoled the bereaved family.
Many said Odoh’s show of compassion was the kind of empathy that the state government should have shown to the Ukawu families that lost their lives and loved ones to the Owo terrorists attack.
Our family devastated, says first son of deceased couple
First son of the deceased couple, Henry Chukwudi, told Daily Sun that he was confused. The roadside horticulturist in Independence Layout Enugu said his greatest challenge was the wellbeing of his 11 siblings, especially those of them that are still in school.
“It’s a shocking experience. We didn’t expect it like that but we still bless God because there is nothing we can do. This kind of issue is not supposed to happen in a civilized country like Nigeria. It means there is no security of any kind in the country,” he lamented.
Continuing, he confirmed that help had not been coming their way except the N500,000 that was given to him by the church for the burial of his parents.
He said: “Since this thing happened, the government is supposed to have called families of the victims to ask them one or two things but they feel reluctant. All we hear is this one brought this one and all that, yet, we don’t even see any. I have many siblings, everything is left for me now. What will I do now? I am only managing a little flower shop; feeding from hand to mouth. How do I take care of my siblings? Please Nigerians should intervene in this, I don’t know how to handle it. I am tired.”
Henry and other affected families confirmed that they did not communicate officially to the Ebonyi State Government over their misfortune.
On why he did not approach the government, he explained that the family has had enough hard luck this year and would not want anything that would aggravate it. “That’s why I just told my brother, let’s do it the way we can and let’s just be. If God will intervene, let Him intervene,” he said.
Henry, who described his father as a very hard working and peace-loving man, said he would be sorely missed by the family and the whole community.
He recalled that his father suffered hardship having lost his own parents at very early age and was trained by an uncle. He disclosed that his father was the one who paved way for several Ukawu people to come and live in Owo.
According to him, his father shortly after his secondary education at Government Secondary School, Okposi in Ohaozara, Ebonyi State, came to Owo where he began trading after two years apprenticeship.
Being an only son, he said he got married quite early to their mother, Deborah, daughter of then notable school principal in Owo. He added that his father tried his hands on many things, including farming, working with the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Achievers University Owo, where he worked till the unfortunate incident that claimed his life.
“He was a very good man. Even till his death, many people can still testify about him. He was a straight forward man. He hated when people are oppressed. Most of our people living in Owo today were brought by him from the village. Most of them that are living fine today can attest about my father. That’s why they gave him the title of Enyi waa uzo (Pathfinder).
“It was his uncle that brought him to Owo. After serving the man for two years, he settled him. So, that was how he met my mum,” Henry said.
On his mother, the distraught man said: “She was a businesswoman too. She sold palm oil. She was also a caterer. She hailed from Owo. She was the only daughter of Jacob Adesida, former Principal of Adeyemi Secondary School, Owo.”
We need help from any quarters – Victim who lost brother
One of the survivors of the terrorists attack, Ifeanyi Nweke, from Enyarike, Amoffia Ukawu, confirmed that government took care of his medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre.
The 40-year-old father of three who runs a Supermarket in Owo said his survival was miraculous.
Nweke, who lost his younger brother while another one sustained gunshot in the wrist, lamented that he had spent a fortune since the incident occurred, including bringing his brother’s body to Ebonyi and the burial.
He acknowledged that the church provided casket and ambulance to facilitate his brother’s burial.
On his experience when the incident happened, Nweke said: “We were in the church and almost at the verge of dismissal when we started hearing gunshots. Initially, we thought it was from cultists. This thing lasted for over 40 minutes. It was a horrible and very gory experience. There was blood everywhere; body parts were scattered in the church. I can say heaven was let loose. In fact, when we got to the FMC, even the nurses and other workers were confused.
“I was then taken to a private hospital where my gunshot injury was stitched. Days later, I was taken to a traditional home where the bullets were extracted before I was again taken to the FMC. The Ondo State Government took charge of the bills at the FMC.”
Nweke, in a telephone chat with Daily Sun, disclosed that he has been discharged from the hospital but currently undergoing physiotherapy. “We actually need assistance or relief. My shop where my late younger brother manned is now under lock and key,” he said.
My wife cheated death, by man who lost 6-year-old son
For the family of Chukwudi Eze, a cosmetics dealer, they have every cause to thank God despite losing six year-old-son, Chikamso, in the attack.
Eze who disclosed that six members of his family were at the scene of the incident; while himself and his 11-year-old daughter, MaryJane, suffered severe gunshot wounds, three others escaped unbelievably.
Eze said since he was discharged, that his wife had been in the hospital taking care of their daughter. He disclosed that the young girl who was about entering secondary school might not join others as schools resumed for the new session.
Regardless, he said: “I have no choice but to give God the glory because I can’t explain how three other of my family members escaped miraculously.
“Besides, my wife was already dressed for the service but felt she would really be late and she stayed back. So, I don’t know what would have happened if she was at the church too.
“I spent almost three months in the hospital, we are just managing to feed; we are nine in the family and it’s not been easy. So, I would appreciate any help from any quarters.”