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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Residents of Kapam Rido, in the vicinity of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) of Kaduna city on Thursday shed tears and rained curses on those who killed their son, Mr. Genesis Iliya, 22, as his remains was laid to rest after eight months of brutal murder allegedly by men of Kaduna Vigilante Services (KADVIS) during a demolition exercise by State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA).
Those who witnessed the burial were mostly women who appeared in black attire as mark of mourning mood.
When the people protested on March 31, 2022 against the demolition of several houses in the community by KASUPDA), little did they know that that was the genesis of a bloody day in the community.
The protest against officials of KADVIS who were engaged by KASUPDA to provide security cover for its officials during the demolition exercise led to the death of Mr. Iliya who was hit by a stray bullet allegedly from sporadic shooting by KADVIS men.
Daily Sun gathered that the trouble started early February when KASUPDA gave 2-week quit notice to those that were concerned in the community to vacate some portions of land allegedly belonging to the management of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
Following the demolition, the community decided to jointly drag KASUPDA, KRPC and the State government to court to stop them from taking over their land.
The case which is being handled by Dr. Reuben Atabo (SAN) on behalf of the community is before the Kaduna State High Court 3.
It was also gathered that the body of Mr. Iliya had to be kept in the mortuary for almost eight months because of the pending court case.
Shortly before late Iliya was laid to final rest at Kapam cemetery in the community at about 10 Am, some people gave testimonies about him.
Mr. Gideon Iliya who is the elder brother to the deceased, lamented the death of his younger brother, saying the family had lost a hero.
“Genesis my brother was a very humble person. He was the hero in our family because he ran errands for everybody without complaining.
“He wanted to rescue my wife who was molested by officials of KADVIS on the day of the protest against demolition when a bullet hit him on the chest and he was killed. THere were 48 KADVIS men who came, and some of them were shooting guns sporadically.
“My brother was a tailor and he was also a member of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the community. Until his death he was among the JTF men drafted keep vigilant at the back of the fence of KRPC.
“We have been living in peace with KRPC for years, but we are surprised that the company connived with KASUPDA to kill my brother”.
The man from whom the deceased learnt tailoring, Mr Philip Makama said he was most bereaved about the death of his former apprentice.
“I am most bereaved. When I heard of his death I shed tears like I never did before. I couldn’t believe. I have never cried in my life like I did at his death.
“I was always calling him my Oga, even though I am his Oga because he was trustworthy. He was always around me”. Makama said.
The community leader, Mr. Philip Joshua said Genesis Iliya was mercilessly killed on the day of protest against demolition exercise in the community.
Mr. Joshua added that the deceased deserved a befitting burial because of the circumstance that led to his untimely death.
“We did not take law into our hands hence we are here to give him a befitting burial after some months in the mortuary.
“We have been at peace with the refinery for the past 45 years. But no social amenities from the company to the community. We have been at risk of our lives because of emissions from the refinery had in recent past affected our health and our crops”. Mr. Joshua said.
The officiating Cleric, Rev. Ezra Solomon Allaluma of Bethel Baptist church, Ungwan Kapam took a brief gospel from the books of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 1 and Hebrew chapter 9 verse 27.
Rev. Solomon reminded the sympathisers that it is appointed unto man to die once, after which it would be judgement day before God.
To this end, the Cleric advised everybody, especially the youth to devote their energy to the service of God.
He said, “I advise you to make use of your youthful ages to serve God because on the day of our death we become food to the earth.
“Whatever we are doing in secret, the Lord is watching, the Lord is seeing us. We should devote our time to the service of God for the world is coming to an end, and judgment day is at hand.
“I want to advise those that are smoking Wee-wee to stop for the day of death is coming. Don’t waste your life on earthly things. Serve God always because today is your day, but tomorrow belongs to God”.
