Tears flowed freely yesterday in the family home of slain corps member, Chukwudumeibi Okonta, in Ilah, Delta State, when the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, paid a condolence visit to the family.
Chukwudumeibi Okonta was killed during last week’s rerun election in Rivers State by unknown gunmen.
Brig-Gen. Olawumi, who was accompanied by the state Coordinator of the scheme, Mrs. Olive Essien Etukudo and other senior officials, expressed sadness and shock over the gruesome murder of the corps member.
According to him, the late corps member had finished his assignment at the polling unit and was going home when he was shot dead, along with two others, by yet-to-be identified hoodlums.
The DG assured the family and the entire Ilah community that efforts were being made to apprehend the killers of the corps member, a graduate of Political Science from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
He assured the people that the NYSC would not abandon the family in their time of grief, promising to participate actively during the burial after a post mortem by the Rivers State government had been carried out.
Writing in the condolence register, the Director-General described the death of the corps member as sad. “It is so sad that you were cut down in the process of serving your nation.
“Me, the entire management and staff, as well as all members of the corps nationwide are deeply grieved by your death.
“I promise that I will not relent until we ensure that those who keep you permanently silent forever are brought to book. Adieu Samuel and RIP.”
Responding on behalf of the family, Chief Chikwenye Maduku, said they have put in so much to train the slain corps member, adding “we can only pray for the repose of his soul.”
The eldest sister of the late corps member, Mrs. Victoria Akpa, who wept uncontrollably, told reporters that the boy experienced daunting challenges to complete his academic ambition and that his death was shocking to the family.
“The news of his death was schooling. They stabbed my heart. They killed me.
“His father died in 1993 mother, mother in 2015. I have been taking care of him. No relation helped us. Everybody ran away but we managed until he graduated,” Mrs. Akpu said.
The delegation also visited the traditional ruler of Illah, RM, Obi Akazue Gbemudu 11Ogbelani of Ilah, where the DG praised the prevailing peace in the town.
The DG later told corps members serving in the community not to be deterred by the circumstances of Samuel Okonta’s death in the discharge of their national assignment.