The Year 2020 Christmas season in Nigeria and indeed other parts of the world may go down in history as one of the most tragic with shocking high profile and other deaths.
Just when Nigerians were heaving a sigh of relief that the notorious year riddled with global pandemic experience and other disasters was gradually exiting the stage for an optimistic year 2021, death came knocking on doors of VIPs at Christmas!. For us in Nigeria, it is a case of death too many.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG notes with concern that aside the VIPs deaths, road crashes claiming several lives across the country was also on the increase doing Christmas.
TNG lists in details below the high profile deaths and others that befell the nation in a Christmas mood.
1. PANDEF National Chairman and Ex-Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Idongesit Nkanga
Nigerians received with shock, the death of National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Idongesit Nkanga on Christmas Eve (December 24).
According to reports, the 68-year-old former military governor of Akwa Ibom State who has had a long battle with the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surrendered to the illness on Christmas Eve (December 24).
The late Nkanga was Akwa Ibom governor from September 1990 to 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, handing over to an elected civilian Governor at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic. Ufot Ekaette, who later became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was his deputy.
TNG reports that till now neither the late Nkanga’s family, nor the Akwa Ibom State Government and PANDEF have released statements confirming his death.
2. Popular Nollywood filmmaker, Chico Ejiro
Renowned Nollywood filmmaker, producer and director, Chico Ejiro who according to reports was active on set on Christmas Eve (December 24) died on Christmas morning (December 25) without any health complains.
Born Chico Maziakpono in Isoko, Delta State, Ejiro is a movie director, screenwriter, and producer.
Ejiro originally studied agriculture, and he was drawn into video production because Nigerians would not buy blank video cassettes.
The sad news of Ejiro’s death came out on Christmas Day but not much detail is known about the cause of the death of the veteran filmmaker.
According to close family sources, Ejiro died on Christmas morning in Lagos State.
Ejiro is married to Joy Ejiro and they have four children.
The father of former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso, aged 93, is dead.
Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso who was the District Head of Madobi died on Christmas morning.
The media aide to the former governor, Saifullah Muhammad, announced the death of the Makaman Karaye, on his Facebook page in Hausa.
He has since been buried on Friday according to Islamic rites.
The Makaman Karaye left behind by two wives, 19 children (10 females and 9 males) and many grandchildren.
Popular Islamic scholar and retired justice, Ahmed Lemu is died on Christmas Eve (December 24).
He died at the age of 91 in Minna, Niger State.
His son, Nurudeen, announced the death on behalf of his family.
“It is with sadness and reverence to Allah that we announce the passing away of our father, Dr. Justice Sheikh Ahmed Lemu OFR, in the early hours of this morning in Minna. Burial arrangements to be announced later,” he said.
Lemu is one of the two Nigerians who have won King Faisal Prize.
He chaired the Presidential Panel on Post-Election Violence in Nigeria in 2011. He was also a member of the Nigerian Council of Religions, the Presidential Council for Youth Development, and various other national committees and councils.
5. Mobolaji Salu, Head of Business, MMA Termina2
The Management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Terminal 2 (MMA2), has announced the death of its Acting Head of Business, Mr Mobolaji Salu.
Mr Mikail Mumuni, Group Corporate Affairs Manager of the company, in a statement issued on Friday, in Lagos, said late Salu, formerly the Head of Operations of BASL, died on Dec. 24, after a brief illness.
The statement quoted the Chairman of BASL, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) as describing the death of Salu as “a big loss to the company, his family and the Nigerian Aviation sector.”
“Bolaji was a hardworking and diligent person who will be dearly missed by the Board, management and Staff of BASL, his family and his colleagues in the aviation sector in general,” Babalakin said.
6. Boko Haram strikes again in Borno
Some Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday (Christmas eve) attacked Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria Church (Church of the Brethren) at Pemi village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State killing six.
The Boko Haram insurgents reportedly burnt down the church where natives were busy preparing for Christmas celebrations.
In the attack six cars and five houses belonging to the Church were razed, according to reports.
“The insurgents came in around 5:30 pm through Gogombi. They came in batches of two. The first came in with a motorcycle while the other came in heavy vehicles. As soon as they entered the village, they started shooting sporadically and towards the EYN church,” on of the survivours said.