Secessionist group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has warned the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri and Aladimma Hospital, as well as the Imo State Commissioner for Health, to dump any plan to bury its members, who were allegedly murdered in cold blood by Nigerian security operatives in Imo State, in mass graves.
In a statement on Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the idea as inhuman, saying that the owners of the victims are still searching for their corpses.
According to IPOB, the mortuary of FMC Owerri is filled with corpses of innocent Biafran youths ‘slaughtered’ by security forces in different parts of Imo State.
Warning against a hurried burial in a mass grave, IPOB said: “What an affront to our culture and tradition? What an insult to the spirit of the dead and the bereaved families?
“We are, therefore, warning the Chief Medical Directors, CMDs and the Management of these two hospitals, as well as the Commissioner for Health, Imo State, to quickly jettison this plan.
“The security agencies have always denied being in the custody of the victims after abducting them, only for their corpses to the dumped at the FMC mortuary.
“Some of the Biafran youths abducted by security agents in Imo State were taken to various secret cells in the North, where they are now languishing under severe and inhuman torturing.
Friends and associates of the late Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo, yesterday gathered at his Benin City resident to pay a glowing tribute to him.
Giving his tribute, Executive Director, Ocean Marine Solution, Oyekunle Oyelakun, described the late Okunbo as his godfather and a man whose generosity knew no bounds. Oyelakun added that the late captain taught him morals and how to love humanity.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda (retd), described the deceased as a man whose love and generosity were to a fault.
He said Captain Hosa did not die because his works live on. Ikioda charged the children of the deceased not to allow the dreams of their father to die, but to build on his legacies.
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Another speaker, Chidi Nwonkoma, said Captain Okunbo loved the Bini people so much that never turned his ears and eyes off when he saw and heard anyone spoke the language, and without helping the person.
He also said the captain didn’t die, rather went to rest from his labours. For Mnena Bara-Hart, Captain Hosa Okunbo was created for love, just as she said he was a rock and a spring of support to many.
