Tragedy struck last week, as members of the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram wrecked havoc in Dantata Street, Plateau, maiming and killing the family of Chukwurah in what eye witnesses claim to be an orchestrated target
attack.
Mr Clement Chukwurah breadwinner of the affected family , was a popular community activist and also the head and founder of the brother hood religious organization, a non-profit interdenominational interest group, at the forefront
of using non-violent means to curb the excesses of Boko Haram, a terror group linked to Al-Qaeda and the notorious Al-Sahaba.
His association also carters for the well-being of those displaced by clashes in the volatile state of Plateau, which as an history of religious war and ethnic clashes.
After a 30-minute ordeal in broad light, which residents of the area described as bloody and a senseless brandishing of power against harmless and helpless persons, the family’s residence on number 2 Danata Street was completely razed down, three out of the five family members were killed, mostly shot in the head.
Meanwhile, the head of the family, Clement suffered a more tortuous death, as he made to witness the deaths of each members of his family, before he himself was decapitated and finally burnt to death along side with his wife.
Accounts by a lucky survivor, Clement’s son, Fortune Chukwurah as he lay on a bed in a hospital ward (not disclosed for security reasons), gave us an insight to the horror that unfolded inside the Chukwurah residence that day.
“They stormed our house in dozens, armed to the teeth, with guns and machetes, charms tied to their hands.”
“Our captors demanding where’s Clement, where’s the paper, where’s is the paper.”
“Amid this shouting we were all ordered into the sitting room and asked to lie down flat, facing face down , Daddy was asked to produce a certain document, which was solely what they wanted,” Fortune said further.
Continuing his narration, he said, “They shoved and pushed Daddy, threatening to kill him if he didn’t obey them and produce the papers, but Daddy kept insisting he didn’t have the papers with him.”
Coughing and still in a state of shock, Fortune corroborated claims that the attack was a deliberate one aimed at silencing Clement’s effort in championing a lasting solution to the Boko Haram crisis in the state.
“Before that day, these mercenaries in disguise have always visited us, but on each occasions they always parted after my father doled out cash gift or other forms of incentives, not as a bribe but as a kind gestures and a way of reaching out to them.”
“ He was also well loved by these people, though a non-native, he spoke the local dialect fluently and was mingled with everyone because he was naturally a jovial person,” Fortune enthused.
“He was well known in the community, once when the community was still peaceful, before the madness of ethnic and religious violence began.”
“But on this occasion, they came for blood, veiled and with an agenda. The claim by Daddy that he didn’t have the documents they wanted irked them, and they raped Mummy in his presence, before shooting our nanny.
“It was when they attempted to shoot me that, Daddy turned violent, grabbing one of them, in the ensuing melee, I made a dash for the door as I ran quickly through the bush until I passed out.
“I ran, not knowing how injured I was, until I got to the hospital .
Though of Ibo origin, Clement migrated with his then young wife to North Central Nigeria , settling down to eke a living for himself.
A neighbor who knew Clement very well and who spoke to our correspondent only after he promised that his identity would not be revealed said, “he (Clement) was well loved in the community because he was at the forefront of communal activities, he would expend his money and time in ensuring that people in the community related with each other with love.”
A co-worker at his NGO who also shed more light on the matter, opined that in recent weeks Clement attended several meetings and was working with some other interest group to gazette the activities of some key members of the society who silently fund this group.
It was believed that their work had reached an advanced stage and they were about sending a delegation to meet with the government.
Many who spoke at his place of work and members of other human rights group believe that he was killed because of this.
Meanwhile, back in the hospital ward seated with Fortune is a member of the extended family Stephanine Foygomwalk who lived with the Chukwurah’s but who also survived because she had gone to remedial lessons.
forlorn look, worn out and tired unsure of what hope they had in a country that those not guaranty the future of many like them all due to religious and ethnic bigotry .