Tears flowed freely
yesterday as remains of Lloyd Toku Mike, one of the four University of
Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)students, who was brutally murdered in Omuokiri
community, Aluu clan, Rivers State, on October 5, 2012, were buried in
Port Harcourt City cemetery, opposite Free-Town Street, off Aggrey Road,
Port.
Toku was a
200 level engineering student and first son of his parents, Mr. &
Mrs. Toku Mike. His dad is an Assistant Director of Programmes, Rivers
State Broadcasting Service. As early as 8am, mourners and sympathisers
had started gathering in their residence at No. 29 Captain Amangala
Street, Town, Port Harcourt. Some sympathisers, who wore black T-shirt
with Lloyd's picture on it, moved straight to mortuary, as they wanted
to capture every bit of the action, while other waited patiently at the
residence.
At exactly
9:59am, the ambulance, a Ford Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with a Lagos
registration number, BDG 485 AS, bearing the corpse, arrived the family
house for the last time. "My baby is here," the grieving mother
muttered, as she touched the ambulance bearing the body of her cherished
son. After about five minutes, the body was moved to the field, where
an open church service was held, before the remains were taken to the
Port Harcourt City Cemetery for internment.
After some
soul-touching songs and choruses by members of Salvation Ministries, one
of the pastors of the church, Promise Jeremiah, preached a sermon,
taking his theme from Luke Chapter 16:22-30, which talked about a beggar
and Lazarus. He said in life, people must belong to, either, Lazarus'
camp or beggar's camp, heaven or devil's camp. The pastor urged his
listeners to repent and to turn to God, as they might not have another
opportunity to make amends, when they die, just like the rich man, who
among others pleaded that Lazarus be sent to his father's house, to tell
the members of his family to live righteous life. In his tribute, Mr.
Toku Mike, regretted that his son never spoke to him for the last time
before life was snuffed out of him.
He said:
"Lloyd, you called and wished me happy birthday on Thursday, October 4,
2012. You promised you would come home on Friday, October 5, 2012 after
lectures but you never did. Little did I know that your birthday wish
was your goodbye to me, your mother, and your younger brother. "Lloyd,
why, why and why did you abandon us the way and manner you did? Lloyd,
we loved you so very much. Word alone can't explain how much love we had
and still have for you even in death."
He said if
money and tears were enough to bring him back to life, he and his wife
wouldn't have stopped crying, and would have gone extra mile to borrow
without hesitation. Mr. Toku, who later spoke to Saturday Sun said he
was sad that he would only be seeing the still picture of his beloved
son, instead of seeing and speaking with him in person.
Most of the
people who spoke on the occasion condemned the federal and Rivers State
governments, for not sending representatives to the burial ceremony.
They also urged the security agencies to fish out the suspected killers
now at large. The students union leaders also condemned the authorities
of University of Port Harcourt for not doing enough to ensure that the
slain students get justice. As result of the tension and uncomplimentary
remarks made against UNIPORT authorities, the representatives of the
Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Jospeh Ajienka, Professor
Bellgam Henry, left the scene without making any comments or remarks.
But in the burial programme, the condolences of the Vice Chancellor of
University of Port Harcourt, sent to the Toku's family on October 11,
2012, Professor Ajienka, was published. He described the circumstances
leading to the gruesome murder of the students as unfortunate,
regrettable and condemnable.
"The entire
university community is yet to recover from the shock of that dastardly
act. May I, on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate and student of
the University of Port Harcourt deeply commiserate with you and your
family on the sudden death of your son, Mike Toku," he wrote. Also, in a
condolence message, dated November 1, 2012, and signed by the
commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Joeba West, Rivers State
government expressed shock over the death of Lloyd. West said as a
student of Family Support Primary school, Lloyd was hardworking and
promising.
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