…Mum contemplates suicide if…

By ALBERT AKPOR

AT 17, Chibuike Ihemeje was already fending for himself and members of his family when majority of his mates were still being catered for by their parents.   After a national diploma certificate from the Kaduna Polytechnic, the Oji River,  Enugu state born first child of a family of eight chose soccer as a career and was doing marvellously well. He chose playing football as a career in so many clubs in the country especially in Kaduna where he was born and grew up.

He won laurels to his credit and to the admiration of his peers.    But while he was fast ascending the peak of his career, tragedy struck.  He was caught in the ethno-religious crisis that rocked Kaduna  in July 2009.  As a devout christian, the footballer was reported to be in church,  St Michael Anglican church, Sabon Gari,  Zaria that ill-fated day when some restive youths in their hundred stormed the area and started unleashing terror on worshippers.

In the ensuing imbroglio, Elder Beniz Ihemeje, father to Chibuike was hacked down.  He died before he could get medical attention.  During the mayhem sources had ,  that young Chibuike escaped to the Central Police station there in Sabon-Gari for safety.  Bud sad enough, the whereabout of the promising lad is shrouded in uncertainty till date. Since his disappearance and endless search, his aged mother, Mrs Paulina Ihemeje has been broken hearted.  At the Vanguard corporate head office on Kirikiri canal, Apapa Lagos recently, the widow who was visibly devastated threatened to commit suicide if she could not set her eyes on the first fruit of her womb.

Mrs Paulina Ihemeje who was constantly being consoled by Mr. Christian Ihemeje, a family member who accompanied her during this encounter said the family has visited nearly all the remand homes and mortuaries in the country in their endless search for her son.  “ Where did we not go to, where?  During that fight between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna, it happened that I travelled down to my husband’s village otherwise,  I could have been a victim too.  Up till today, nobody can tell you what actually led to the riot that consumed many lives including that of my son, God forbid; Chibuike did not die.

However,  what I later heard was that the restive youths were protesting sermon against polygamy earlier preached in the church. (weeps).

Continuing, Mrs Ihemeje said, “Immediately I received the news of the riot on the television, I started praying fervently for the safety of my family.   My consolation was that it is either Chibuike was somewhere in his club playing football or in the church with his siblings and father.  Again I became agitated when frantic efforts to get my husband on his phone was not successful.  Not even Chibuike called me to narrate what happened.

I became more worried and decided that I must travel back to face the worst.  It was at the central police station that I later met my other children, but Chibuike was nowhere to be found.  Meanwhile, the remains of my husband had been deposited in the morgue by the church.  I was confused on what to think about.  Was it my husband who bade me save journey when I was travelling home or my son who took me to the park and ensured that the vehicle left before he went back home?  So tell me,  which should I think about.?

Chibuike was my first child and while growing up, he promised that he would build me a good house, buy a car for us, I and his father and relocate us from Kaduna.  His dream was to become one of Nigeria’s best footballers and dedicate his life to charity.  But all that is now shrouded in uncertainty because for more than one year now, I have not set my eyes on my hope, the hope of the family.  However, I am convinced that my son is not dead, why should anybody want to kill him?

He is harmless, easy going and very dedicated christian.  This is why I am calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim to please convince me that Chibuike is not dead and of course, provide him to me because I ma running out of patience.  Anything short of this will definitely result in me taking my life.”