Posted by By Chris Anucha on
The slain aviation safety activist, Jerry Agbeyegbe literally came back to life Wednesday, October 12, as his colleagues in the aviation industry, family members, friends and well wishers staged a peaceful protest in Lagos, to mark the one year anniversary of his gruesome murder.
The slain aviation safety activist, Jerry Agbeyegbe literally came back to life Wednesday, October 12, as his colleagues in the aviation industry, family members, friends and well wishers staged a peaceful protest in Lagos, to mark the one year anniversary of his gruesome murder.
The occasion also afforded the protesters opportunity to condemn the inability of the Nigeria police to re-arrest the prime suspect, Ms Juliet Okonkwo, the prostitute, who was in the same vehicle with Agbeyegbe before he was shot dead.
As early as 8.am that Wednesday, people had started trooping into the Beesam, Airport road office of the aviation workers in readiness for the historic protest march.
Prominent among them was the man who took over from Agbeyegbe, as the national president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Eng. S.A Kyari, Agbeyegbe's widow, Mary and the Executive Director of Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative, Eng. Efanga Offiong.
Unarmed policemen monitored the protesters closely as they marched along the airport road, to forestall a possible break down of law and order.
Placards displayed by the protesters succintly captured their mood and sent the right messages to those they were meant for. Some of the placards read: "Can the police find the killers of Captain Jerry"? " He died for air safety." "Justice shall prevail one day." "Jerry, shame to your killers."
Efanga Offiong fired the first shot, at the local wing of the airport, Ikeja, where the crowed was anxiously waiting to be addressed.
"We have come to remember the foremost crusader for aviation safety in the Nigeria. We are not mourning him, but we are remembering him. We are appealing to the Nigeria Police to produce the prime suspect, Ms Juliet Okonkwo."
He explained that the leadership of the country and indeed, the police owed it as duty to explain why Agbeyegbe was killed. "Twelve months were enough for the police to conclude their investigations," Offiong said.
He tasked the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, to redeem the image of the police by fishing out those behind the death of the activist.
"One year after, the public would like to know from the new IG who killed Jerry. Israel Ajao's theory has failed. We won't be deterred by Jerry's death," he said.
The deputy national president of Nigerian Airways Pensioners, Comrade Muyideen Oyewo said they were also prepared to die for the cause for which Jerry was killed.
"He died for the course of the aviation industry. We are also prepared to die," he told the crowd.
Kyari, in his speech pointed out that the aviation industry had witnessed an unprecedented degeneration since the death of the former president but added that the flame of his activism would be kept alive.
The widow, who looked dogged, revealed how her late husband dedicated himself to the cause of the workers even at the expense of his welfare.
"He had no personal gain from the struggle. He stood behind the workers, and fought against injustice, he was a lone voice in the wilderness. He used his personal money to fight for the workers," she said.
She disclosed how the husband was offered money several times in order to buy him over, which he turned down. "They offered him bribe several times but he refused."
She described the husband as a harmless person and promised to keep up the struggle.