Shepherd Communications' Blog: Tears in Nimbo as Bishop Onah Holds Burial Mass for Victims of Herdsmen Attack

By Alphonsus N. Ogili

It was indeed a day of great anguish and tears in Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, on July 17, following a burial mass celebrated by the Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Most Rev. Professor Godfrey I. Onah for the victims of the herdsmen attack of April 23.

The funeral mass which attracted notable personalities including Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Sen. Chuka Utazi of Enugu North Senatorial Zone, former Gov. of Anambra State, Chief. Peter Obi, scores of priests and Rev. Sisters, among others, was celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Nimbo, for about 9 victims of the violence unleashed by the heartless herdsmen in the community amidst sorrows, tears and agony by the bereaved, friends and well-wishers.

In his homily, Bishop Onah bitterly condemned the attack saying, "since that dark and terrible Monday, 25th April, 2016 we have been in tears and in sorrow. How often have we wished the whole thing were just a bad dream from which we would soon wake? But unfortunately, day after day, week after week, the reality of the tragedy of that black Monday keeps staring us in the face."

"And as if to shake off any element of doubt that may still be in our minds about that sad day, here we have the mortal remains of some of our slain brothers lying before us. Never in the history of our community have we witnessed anything similar. And we pray and hope that never again shall we witness any tragedy close to this one in magnitude.

"As we bury some of these our brothers today, we turn to God in gratitude, with faith, hope and charity. We are grateful to God, our merciful Father, that some of us are still alive today to bury and mourn our dead. If our invaders had had their way, there would probably not have been anybody left in Nimbo today to bury the dead.

"But thanks to God, many were able to escape and some are now here today to pay their last respect to their slain brothers. We also thank God for the way in which he has shown us his love in these months of pain and sorrow, through the constant presence and help of persons, institutions and organizations from far and near." he continued.

Bishop Onah further made a passionate appeal to the government all levels especially the state government, with their laws and security agencies, to be the rod and the staff with which God comforts the people for them to be able to walk through the valley without fearing any evil stressing that failure to do that, does not only mean failure to humanity, but God Himself.

Addressing the people after the Holy Mass that saw him take the first reading, Governor Ugwuanyi pledged the resolve of his administration to ensuring that similar killings does not happen again.

Gov.Ugwuanyi who had earlier embarked on condolence visits to the community spoke with passion immediately after the service, noting that Monday, the 25th of April, 2016, will ever remain a dark, sad and solemn day in the minds of the people of Nimbo, Enugu State and Nigerians at large.

“It was on that day that our brothers and sisters, whose remains are lying here before us, were ambushed and murdered in cold blood and in their own land. Having done all that was needful including attending to the injured and the displaced, we have assembled here, in tears and in grief, to bury the dead and bid their innocent souls a final farewell.

“Though our emotions cannot restore them to life, we find solace in the fact that the whole world had stood by us and offered us sympathy and solidarity,
ever since the incident that took their lives, occurred. We make bold to declare that their deaths can never be in vain and we pledge to do all that is within our legitimate means, to give them justice.

"Like the martyrs they have become, the spilling of their innocent blood is already saving souls as it has aroused in our people and indeed the whole nation, a burning impulse to do all that is necessary to prevent the future occurrence of similar incidents anywhere in the country," Gov. Ugwuanyi added.

After the funeral mass, the remains of the deceased were taken to their respective homes where they were finally laid to rest.