The youth corper who was killed during the re-run election in Rivers State, Samuel Chukwudumebi Okonta was Friday buried amidst tears in his hometown, Illah in Oshimili North council area of Delta State .
Relatives, friends, youth corpers and officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) sobbed uncontrollably when the remains of the late graduate of political science were lowered into the grave.
The slain corper was posted to Yobe State last year for his primary assignment, but was redeployed to Rivers State, his birth place for primary assignment until he was engaged as ad hoc staff by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the re-run election.
He had submitted the result of the election in his polling unit to the INEC and was returning home in the same village where he was serving before he was shot along with two others who survived.
Elder brother of the deceased, Ify Henry Okonta at the funeral service at Holy Family Catholic Church described Dumebi as a rare gem, focused and down to earth person adding that Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had promised to rebuild the NYSC secretariat in Port Harcourt and to rename it after his late brother as a way of immortalizing him.
The casket bearing the late corper arrived in their family house at Ogbe Orji in Illah at about 11.20am from Port Harcourt Friday in an ambulance with registration number Abuja: RSA 414 A accompanied by officials of NYSC in Rivers State led by Mrs. Juliet Ibianuka, Assistant Director Corps Welfare who was also represented the state coordinator, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakeleji.
The head of NYSC delegation from Abuja Mrs. Rhoda Kaka Kwaka who represented the Director General of the Corps Brig. Gen Johnson Olawumi, Delta State co-ordinator, Mrs. Olive Essien Etukudo, and Corps members, Delta state resident Electoral Commission Banitor Kpagih and other INEC officials received the remains of Samuel Okonta.
Highlight of the burial was a novelty football match by Illah Footballers Association (IFA) at Omorka model primary school, to honour one of their own Dumebi who was twice the best player of Steven Keshi football competition in 2006 and 2007 .
Keshi former super Eagles coach is a native of Illah, and according to the chairman of (IFA) Barr. Nelson Okomma, the late corper was a valuable footballer in the community.
In his homily at the funeral services at Holy family Catholic Church Illah Rev. Father Henry Ogonwa advised youths not be discouraged by what the elders are doing in the country but rather to use their potentials to change the course of events.
The cleric who condemned a situation where people want to become leaders at the expense of lives of others noted with sadness that “our brother has become a victim of political class”, charging those who occupied public offices and knew they can no longer serve to give way rather than sitting tight.
He called for the immortalization of the late youth corper who died while on national assignment.
He however enjoined all to pray for Nigeria in other to protect the lives of its citizens.