Anguish and pain have taken over in the families of a newly wedded couple who just got involved in a disastrous road accident while returning from a marriage ceremony.
The accident which happened around 9pm last Friday, claimed the lives of mine, including the bride, groom, his mother and three close friends.
A family member from the groom’s side who identified herself as Nwada Ijeoma married in Azia but based in Nnewi Anambra State, told local journalists that she rushed down to her father’s compound, the Okabekwa family in Amudo Umueze in Iseke, the groom’s home place, to see things for herself.
READ ALSO: Before You Go Into Marriage…Chiwetalu Agu Counsels Women
She moaned that a great rain – Igbo euphemism for tragedy – had indeed drenched the family, in that what was supposed to be a celebratory marriage ceremony had harvested mourning for the two families.
READ ALSO: Hisbah Arrests Commissioner Over Alleged Adultery In Uncompleted Building
She narrated that among those claimed in the accident were the groom, his mother, Augustina Okabekwa, A K A Okwuruoka, who happened to be the president of the Christian Women Organisation (CWO); her brother in-law Jude Okabekwa; and younger brother to the groom, Okaka, amongst others,.
In her account rendered in Igbo, she said:
“It was yesterday that I got the news and decided to rush home to find out things by myself.
“I ran down here to my father’s compound and it dawned on me that what I heard was not a rumour.
“As it is now, I do not have more details being that having been married out, I was in my husband’s place and didn’t know how it all happened.
“Also, I was not in the know that my people went to Abakalikii on Friday to marry for one of their sons.
“From what I gathered however, they finished the marriage ceremony late and you know the return journey entered night because of the distance from Abakalikii,
“What we have heard is that it was a trailer accident but the details are not yet clear, whether they ran into the trailer or the other way round.
“But that was how 9 people got perished, 3 from Onitsha where that sister of ours lives, and five from this compound we are in, including the groom’s mother Augustina Okabekwa, A K A Okwuruoka, president of the CWO – the groom was his first son; her brother in-law who owned this house behind us, Jude Okabekwa died; her husband’s younger brother, Okaka died. And her brother, same mother, same father, their only son at Mbam Iseke also died in the accident.
“This is what has befallen us, tears have filled our eyes..
“Something heavy has happened to Iseke, sorrow has filled our hearts”, she moaned in the interview which was shared by a Facebook user.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television to mention some.
His ongoing Corporate Communications Master Class training series equips learners with credible hands-on skills for effective Media Relations, Public Communications & Corporate Affairs amongst others.
He can be contacted via 09165809519 or 08180335778.