It was a sea of tears at the sleepy town of Umuduru, Awka Etiti in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State as a monument built in honour of the four daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Obiukwu killed in the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, was unveiled over the weekend.

The four deceased daughters of the Obiukwus killed by Boko Haram terrorists were Chioma Lauritta, 23; Ifeoma Linderin and her twin, Uche Queenderlin, 16, and Chidimma Cynthia, 13. Their names were boldly inscribed on top of the monument, which serves as a chapel where people can pray.

Until their untimely demise, Lauritta, the first child of the family, was a Higher National Diploma holder in Business Administration; Ifeoma and Uche were students of Queens’ Science School, Suleja, while the baby of the family, Cynthia, was a student of Harmony Secondary School, Madalla.

Mr. Peter Obi, who was the Anambra State Governor as at that time, had announced the decision to build the monument in their honour during their burial in April 2012 at St’ Ann’s Catholic Church, Awka Etiti. He kept his promise and was present during its commissioning, nearly five months after he left office as governor on March 17, 2014.

As the parishioners gathered again at the same church, the atmosphere was as charged as it was in 2012 when the corpses of the Obiukwu girls were brought into that church for interment.

The women who sobbed uncontrollably rained curses on those who cut short the lives of the four girls through a bomb blast that occurred as they were leaving the church after service.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Obi emphasised the need for continued prayers for the girls and the country, saying that what the country was passing through required such prayers to see her through.

He noted that the promise of full scholarship for the remaining two children of the Obiukwu family which he made during their burial still stands as the two children had become government property.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, commended Obi and all those who contributed in ensuring that the project was completed.

He urged the people not to mourn like people who had no faith, adding that the girls died in defence of their faith in God and as martyrs for peace and progress in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike, an indigene of the community and Political Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano, commended those who contributed in ensuring that the project finally became a reality.

News Express reports that the Obiukwu family had left Kano to settle in Abuja due to insecurity, only to end up losing four of their children in the dastardly attack by Boko Haram, which has sustained a campaign of violence that has ravaged parts of northern Nigeria since 2009.

•Photo shows the poster of the slain Obiukwu daughters, namely, Chioma Lauritta, the twins Ifeoma Linderin and Uche Queenderlin, and Chidimma Cynthia.

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