Posted by By Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt on
It was fresh pain for some of the bereaved parents of the students of Loyola Jesuit College, who perished in the Sosoliso plane crash as they were unable to identify the bodies of their children.
It was fresh pain for some of the bereaved parents of the students of Loyola Jesuit College, who perished in the Sosoliso plane crash as they were unable to identify the bodies of their children.
However, in an apparent move to minimize the pains and check the growing tension, the Rivers State Government, Friday, organized a mass burial for the unidentified bodies of students.
Checks by Sunday Sun revealed that, some of the parents had made vain efforts to identify the remains of their children but due to the burnt and mutilated state of the bodies, their efforts proved abortive.
The Illabors, who lost all their children (three) in the crash could only identify their first and last child. A female body they initially thought was that of their daughter was later confirmed to be that of another female student of the college and consequently, was released to the couple that had laid claim earlier. Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt
Dr. Mbah, another bereaved parent who had collected two bodies presumed to be those of his son and daughter, had to return the female body, following complaints by another bereaved family.
Another case was that of Mr. Okeke who left with a body, thinking it was that of his child.
Alarmed by the development, state health officials had resorted to the use of X-Ray technology in identifying some of the charred bodies, based on information provided by parents.
Seven unidentified bodies were given mass burial at the Port Harcourt City Council cemetery, friday morning.
Present at the occasion were Governor Peter Odili, Health Commissioner, Dr. Solomon Enyindah, and other top government officials.
The officiating Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Maru of St. Mary's Catholic Church, in his homily, offerred words of conslolation, when he said that at times like this, only God can give consolation. He urged the living to draw lessons from what had happened.
The Priest urged Nigerians to pray for the bereaved Parents and the repose of the departed souls.
Speaking at the funeral, the Co-ordinator of the Port Harcourt chapter of the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Mr. Victor Udora, prayed that the deaths of the students would mark the beginning of a new era in the country.