There was outpouring of emotions as victims of the May 30 deadly attack at Nkpor in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State were on Wednesday given a formal burial by Umuada Igbo. Umuada is an Igbo word for first daughters. Umuada wield enormous influence in Igboland.

Organisers of the event who came under the aegis of Ogbako Umuada Igbo Nile led by Chief Mrs. Chika Ibeneme gathered at the Eke Nkpor market square to drive home their anger and bitterness over the manner in which young innocent Igbo men were wasted.

Addressing the all women gathering, who were in a mournful mood, Ibeneme said that the aim of the event was to honour those who lost their lives while peacefully celebrating the 49^th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra, saying that the land has been desecrated and needed to be cleansed, which can only be done through prayers.

In her words: “One hundred and seventy eight Igbo sons and daughters were rudely murdered on May 30, 2016 by agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Enough is enough, we can’t take this anymore. These are human beings that were murdered, people’s children, not chicken.

“They were doing a peaceful procession without possessing any kind of arms, yet they were shot. The land has been badly desecrated and their blood is crying out so, we as mothers of Igbo land have come out to pray and give them a formal burial to put their souls to rest.

“As mothers who carry babies in our womb, when any innocent person is murdered, our hearts bleed. We are not happy with the way and manner innocent bloods are shed in our nation. That is why we have come today to cry out to God to cleanse our land and grant the souls of the innocent rest.”

The leader of the group further prayed God to intervene on the atrocities being caused in Nigeria especially in Igbo land adding that the Igbo extraction should be allowed to go peacefully if they are no longer wanted as part of Nigeria entity instead of the brutality against them.

She noted that the reason for making the event an all women affair was to avoid a repeat of what happened at Nkpor as according to her the presence of men may send another wrong signal.

On her part, the Secretary of the group, Pastor Precious Madu, said that the event has given their hearts as mothers, peace, adding that it is their prayer that such ugly never resurface.

She stressed that the event will help calm the grieving relations of the victims as no formal burial has been done since the incident.

The gathering was marked with a mourning colour of black while women took charge of every process which included the 20 gun salute which was performed by Onyinyechukwu Okafor from Adazi while the casket was ferried to the final resting place in a Mitsubishi mini van by Mrs. Felicia Aniagbaoso.

Before the coffin was buried with black aprons representing the 178 deceased, a motorcade procession was held from the market square to St. Edmund Catholic Church where the evil day started. Women from Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra states participated in the event which drew a large crowd of onlookers.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows Ogbako Umuada Igbo Nile chieftains led by Chief (Mrs.) Chika Ibeneme (with mic) during the formal burial of murdered Biafra activists . . . Wednesday at Eke Nkpor market square, Anambra State.

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