Anambra State Governor Peter Obi could not hold back tears yesterday at the burial of the four members of the Ezebuala family of Uga, Aguata Local Government Area, killed when Boko Haram exploded bombs in the north-western state of Kano on July 29.

Obi, who was one of those in attendance at the burial of the Ezebualas at Uga, described their murder as “a national calamity.”

Reporting on the somber event, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said: “The atmosphere was characterised by wailing and grief as the corpses of the victims were brought for final commendation service at the church.

“The deceased were Nnamdi Ezebuala (48) and his three children: Chinemerem (14), Chiamaka (12) and Nmesomachukwu (10).

“They were killed when Boko Haram sect members launched bomb attacks simultaneously at various points on two busy roads in the Sabongari area of Kano.”

According to NAN, “Obi said that Anambra had faced similar ugly incidents in years past when Anambra indigenes were slaughtered in various parts of the North by Boko Haram insurgents.

“He expressed dismay at the level of destruction of lives and property in various parts of the North.

“The governor said that his administration had fought to ensure security of lives and property, ‘which has made Anambra State a beautiful place for local and foreign investors.’

“The governor urged the Ezebuala family and the people of Uga to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

“He said that government would take over the welfare of the wife of the deceased and her two surviving children.”

Meanwhile, as the Ezebualas were being buried, suspected Boko Haram members opened fire on a church in Yobe State in the country’s North-East, killing the pastor and his two children before setting fire to the building and fleeing.

“Unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked” the church in Yobe State early on Thursday, area military spokesman Eli Lazarus said in a statement.

“During the attack, a pastor and his two children were killed,” he said.

The church “and two other houses in the community were burnt by the gunmen before fleeing the scene of the incident,” the statement further said.

The killings occurred in the town of Dorawa, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the site of a brutal school attack in July that saw dozens of students slaughtered.

Yobe was one of three northeastern states placed under a state of emergency in mid-May as the military launched a major offensive aimed at crushing Boko Haram.

Yobe has seen less violence than neighbouring Borno state, Boko Haram’s base, but the insurgents have carried out major attacks there.

Attacks on churches, including suicide bombings, were once a near weekly occurence but have declined in recent months.

Since the emergency measures were imposed Boko Haram has largely targeted civilians as well as vigilante groups which have formed to help the military.

The Boko Haram conflict was earlier this year estimated to have killed more than 3,600 people, including deaths caused by the security forces. The current toll is likely much higher.

•Photo shows Governor Obi.

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