End violence against children on Nigerian roads

It takes the heart of courageous parents to bury four children on the same day. I had wondered if I could celebrate a funeral with a gaze on four corpses in front of the sanctuary but I did that on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Seat of Wisdom Chapel, Eriam, Afaha-Obong, Abak, Akwa Ibom […]

It takes the heart of courageous parents to bury four children on the same day. I had wondered if I could celebrate a funeral with a gaze on four corpses in front of the sanctuary but I did that on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Seat of Wisdom Chapel, Eriam, Afaha-Obong, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Four young Novices of the congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) were killed in an accident on Ikom-Calabar road. Their car was crashed by an articulated vehicle (truck-trailer) on February 9, 2016. Although most accidents on Nigerian roads are due to lack of maintenance of the roads and the recklessness of some of the drivers, most victims very often resign their fate to the will of God. Akin to an act of perfect resignation, the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) mourned the tragic death of their angelic daughters with the dirge, “My Father planned it all”.  Amidst drizzling tears that could transcend the clouds to reach God in heaven, the rhythm and echo of the hymn could not silence the tears and sorrow of the worshippers:
Although the way be lonely
And darkness shadow falls
I know where ever it leads me
My father planned it all
I sing through the shade and the sunshine
I trust in whatever befalls
I sing for I cannot be silent
My father planned it all (Chorus)
At the wake of the funeral, Fr. Bisong Kekong titled his homily, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). At the funeral mass, Fr. Sam Okwuidegbe SJ in his homily eulogised the qualities and virtues of Sister Bridget Okung (born on April 12, 1993); Sister Stella Igbang (born February 10, 1996); Sister Mary-Judith Anuforo (born February 25, 1992) and Sister Mary Enueze (born July 15, 1988). Mother Leonie-Martha O’karaga, the Superior General of HHCJ, described the reception of the news of the death of these daughters of the Church and daughters of Nigeria and the journey to the scene of the accident as Stations of the Cross. While Bishop Camillus Umoh of the Catholic diocese of Ikot-Ekpene called the young Novices Saints, some other worshippers called them innocent martyrs. Being beautiful Handmaids of Jesus, Sisters Brigdet, Stella, Mary-Judith and Mary had resigned to the will of God. However, they did not know that their exit would be through the violence on the road. They had rendered in sonorous rhyme the lyrics of how God would welcome them to heaven:
If when you give the best of your service
Telling the world that the Saviour is coming
Be not dismayed when men don’t believe you
He’ll understand and say well done
O when I come to the end of my journey
Weary of life and the battle is won
Carrying the staff and the Cross of redemption
He’ll understand and say well done (Chorus)
Why titled this narrative, “violence against children on Nigerian roads” whereas millions of people die on regular basis due to road crash in Nigeria. These accidents kill the old, the young, the rich, the poor, ministers, government officials and all categories of people. Shortly after the death of the four novices, six Vincentian Seminarians of the Congregation for the Mission (CM) who were travelling from Ikot-Ekpene to Enugu died on a road crash. Emeka Osisuiri, Emmanuel Okoli, Michael Nwafor, Emmanuel Adah, Emmanuel Agbo and Joachim Erineyoma were between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty five (25) years.
The “End violence against Children” campaign by United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) has so far concentrated on violence against children in the homes, schools, streets etc. Parents killed in auto-crashes can lead to emotional violence on the children who suddenly become orphans. No matter the age at which people are victims of crash on the roads, children are directly or indirectly affected. On March 7, 2016, almost all the print and electronic media reported that the Minister of State for Labour, Chief James Ocholi (SAN), his wife and second son died in a fatal auto crash along Abuja-Kaduna highway.  While Ocholi was 55 years old, his son, Aaron Enojo was 20 years old. With the death of these bread winners of the family, what will now happen to the remaining children of the family who are less than 20 years old?
The news of Chief Ocholi’s death was reported because of his status and position in the society. There are millions of unknown families who die on Nigerian roads on regular basis. Girl children below the age of fourteen are daily kidnapped on the streets and forced into marriage. Street children are kidnapped regularly for rituals. Child labour on the streets and highways in Nigeria have remained constant. The commentary on road crash on Wazobia Radio on Monday, March 7, 2016 was on accidents on Nigerian roads. One of the commentators recommended that the Federal Government and State Governments should repair the roads to reduce road accidents. Another said that the government officials in Nigeria do not normally travel by road hence they are not aware that the roads are death traps.
According to the statistical analysis of Road accidents in Nigeria (Federal Road Safety Corps Onitsha Anambra State 2002-2015), Road accidents are caused by various reasons, ranging from carelessness on the part of the drivers to the deplorable nature of our roads. Nigerian roads have become killing fields without protection for their users. According to this report, most victims are between the ages of 20-40 years. This confirms that children and youths are mostly affected in the violence on the roads.
I believe this because I have lived with victims of those who suffer trauma from the lost of their loved ones this way. May 29, 2010 is a memorable day in the life of Omonokhua family. This day, a truck-trailer crashed the car of my brother Adolphus, between Irekpai and Ayogwiri, Edo State, Nigeria while avoiding a pothole. That accident killed his wife Carol, her friend and the driver. Although Adolphus was the only person that survived, he still finds it difficult to get over the shock because of the trauma the children (Oshiokhai, Esi, Okhai and the little daughter Etse) had to go through. This experience and my other encounters with children who suffer trauma due to the violence on the roads give me the audacity to make this clarion call. May the souls of all the “road martyrs” and all the faithful departed rest in perfect peace!
Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua ([email protected])