BY EBUN SESSOU

The drama that led to the death of Pastor Timothy Hunkpoyanwa, the second in command of the Mugbewe Egun community, Makoko will forever live in the minds of the families, relatives, friends and all the entire Makoko community.

The death of Pastor Hunkpoyanwa was followed by the on-going demolition of Makoko Waterfront  by the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Department, Mr. Oniru on the order of the Lagos State Government.

The demolition which entered its second week was put on halt after the death of Pastor Hunkpoyanwa last Saturday. To this end, the entire Makoko community have not seized to mourn this unfortunate incident.

When Saturday Vanguard visited the home of late Baale, the atmosphere  tells what is  on  the minds of the people. For the families of the late Baale, his three wives and fourteen children, their story was that of anguish, pain, despair and hopelessness.

Late Hunkpoyanwa

On the day of this ugly incident, his first wife who was briefed of what happened immediately drowned with her child. She is presently recuperating at an undisclosed hospital.

One of children of the third wife, Delphinus  Hunkpoyanwa, twin, 12 years old girl who was supposed to undergo surgery on her right hand is said to have lost hope of regaining her hand back. According to her, “before the incident, my father and I took some steps to restoring my right hand. I am suppose to go for a surgical operation next week but as it is now, I don’t know what to do”, she lamented.

Daniel, twin brother to Delphinus 12 in JSS 1, said, “I was the only one with my father on the day the incident happened. Someone called him and he followed. But the next thing I heard was that somebody was shot dead. I didn’t know who, but later someone told me that my father was dead. I am devastated. My father was everything to me. I don’t know what to do now”, he cried.

Another child, Moses, 20, from the second wife, lamented that the death of his father has caused him so much. “My father had 25 children, 11 died but 14 survived. He was able to train all of us. 12 of us went to school while the remaining two are artisans. My father helped me in life.

He gave me all that I wanted in life. I am a fashion designer. Although, I’m still under apprenticeship. This is my third year in training but my father died without eating the fruit of his labour.

“Since the incident, the entire families have been in pain and deep sorrow. My father was the bread winner of the house but they have killed him. A large number of his children are still in school but now, they don’t know how to continue their education. They have dashed our hopes”, he cried.

When Justina Hunkpoyanwa, 25 heard the news of the death of her father, she collapsed but later regain consciousness. The reason according to her, was that her late father was the only thing she had in her life. Apart from the fact that the late Baale had many children, he was only the bread winner of the entire Hunkpoyanwa’s family. The only man people looked up to for help, she said.

Justina, daughter and Janet, wife

Her words: “when I heard about the incident, I didn’t believe it until the night when I couldn’t see my father again. I cried all  night. Then, the drama became reality. He was not sick, no health challenge whatsoever, someone just shot him and he died”, she lamented.

The second wife to late Baale, Celestina Hunkpoyanwa, also expressed deep sorrow to the unfortunate incident. In her remorse, the 45 year old woman who spoke in pain, said, “I don’t know what to say. Since the incident, my health has been deteriorating. I fainted twice because I don’t know the next thing to do. All my hopes have been dashed. My husband was the only bread winner of the family. They have succeeded in giving me the shock of my life. I don’t know if I can come out of this,”  she said.

“I am a petty trader with six children, I don’t know how to train my children in this condition. I am calling on Lagos State government to come to my aid. Let them come and give my children hope that their father had for them”, she cried.

In the same manner, Janet the third wife, said, “I have not stopped crying since the incident. Now, my children and I cannot afford three square meals. I have four children and he was the only bread winner of the family and a good man. I sell fish along better-life road.

On the health of her daughter, she said, “Now that my husband is dead, I don’t know the next thing to do. I don’t want my daughter to be in this condition for life”, she cried.

The late Pastor Hunkpoyanwa younger brother, Mr. Peter Hunkpoyanwa, called on the Lagos State government to take steps that would alleviate the problem of the families of the late Baale.

When contacted, the Baale of Mugbewe Makoko, Stephen Aji, told Saturday Vanguard that, “On the day of the incident, we heard that policemen were at the waterfront to continue the demolition process. While, we try to intervene, one policeman told us to go and meet one Akin under the third mainland bridge.

On our way, we heard gunshot and the third time, the bullet was targeted at the late Baale. It went through his stomach and pierced his intestines. We were perplexed and in an attempt to rescue his life, he died. He is now in the mortuary. ”

Describing the late Baale, he said, “Timothy was one man who was loved by everybody. He was famous and kind to all the children in the community. He has been a chief for the past 17 years and a pastor at the Celestial Church of Christ, Makoko”, he said.