BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI — Hundreds of Igbo families, including youth corps members, stranded in parts of the Northern states as a result of the recent post election violence have been flown back to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, SMICA, Owerri, Sunday afternoon.

The flight arrangement, which was put together by Governor Ikedi Ohakim, has been described as “a rare show of love and magnanimity to people in distress”.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in Owerri, Governor Ohakim said he did not limit the evacuation of the distressed families to Imo indigenes alone, pointing out that he regarded every life as very precious.

He said: “It is evident that so many families were stranded and distressed as a result of the post-election crisis in parts of the Northern states. What my administration has tried to do is to ferry them into safety. Life is precious and inalienable.”

According to the governor, no fewer than four big aircraft, owned by one of the local carriers (names withheld), had been arranged to fly Ndigbo from Gombe airport to Owerri, adding that vehicles had also been dispatched to parts of the country to bring people home.

“I call on all Igbo whose friends and families were stranded in the North due to the post-election violence to come to Imo airport Sunday (yesterday) to welcome their brothers and sisters,” Ohakim said.

One of the returnees, who simply identified herself as Ngozi, was full of praises for Governor Ohakim for saving them from the trauma.

“People at home who did not experience the violence may not fully appreciate what the governor has done for us by bringing us back into safety. God bless the governor,” Ngozi prayed.