Their crime was leaving for greener pastures, all 26 of them. Two of them were pregnant yet braved the risky trip to Europe to make a better life for themselves- what they thought will be a better life.
However, even before reaching their destination, they were violently assaulted and thrown overboard. The Federal Government did not even so much as cough at this news, and that earned them Oby Ezekwesili’s rage.
The Italian Government took it upon themselves to give the girls a state burial- it just makes one weep for the laissiez faire attitude of our government to Nigerian lives; for deaths that could have been totally avoided; for this land that tends to eat its own.
Twitter Nigeria joined in collective mourning:
The funeral for 26 women and girls who were killed crossing from Libya to Italy nearly two weeks ago is taking place in Salerno right now. Two of them were Marian Shaka
and Osato Osaro. They were only 20 years old.— Ben Ferguson (@FergusonBen) November 17, 2017
Good morning. I’m in Salerno (south of Naples) to cover the funerals of the 26 Nigerian women (mainly teenagers) who drowned crossing Med on the 3rd Nov. pic.twitter.com/SEXvyjRJ3f
— Paraic O'Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
The 2 coffins with the blue flowers are for 2 of the 26 women who were pregnant pic.twitter.com/6JbAKXW6fH
— Paraic O'Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
At the cemetery in Salerno, Italy with @AP colleagues to cover funeral of 26 young Nigerian women who drowned at sea pic.twitter.com/vRkN8XcCK8
— Trisha Thomas (@TrishaThomasAP) November 17, 2017
Reactions:
I think they suffered enough when alive. We should allow them to rest, in perfect peace. Hunting some useless leaders after death is another untold and unbefitting hardship
— Tèmítáyò (@Orukutinditindi) November 17, 2017
If these women had done something remarkable, Nigeria would have sent close to 269 delegates from their local govt, state and Aso Rock, now look at how Nigeria denied and let her people down even at death😭😭😭 Shameful people in Power.
— Ojubanire (@houseofbanire) November 17, 2017
This is heartbreaking
— chioma okpalugo (@ChiomaOkpalugo) November 17, 2017
Thank you Italy. You have dignified our women, even in death. Nigeria has once again failed to protect her own. This is just sad.
— Alexandra Folasade (@Karameleaf) November 17, 2017
Im more impressed that a crowd gathered to empathize. In Nigeria here, we dont really care about "just 26 of us" dying. its business as usual
— Loh's (@lohs_21) November 17, 2017
Shame on us!! Should the Italian government be the one to conduct the burial of 26 Nigerian citizens who died in the Mediterranean? Gross irresponsibility!!
— YOUR DADDY'S MAIN CHIC (@Babypeng_) November 17, 2017
Thank you @TrishaThomasAP for reporting. Thank you #Italy for treating the bodies of our girls with dignity and respect.
— Jeff Okoroafor (@JeffOkoroafor) November 17, 2017
Thank you Italy for giving them a befitting burial which they never would have had back home. The life of the average Nigerian means nothing to our leaders, after all people are bombed, killed and slaughtered daily on our streets and towns across the country.
— Ben (@BenUnegbe) November 17, 2017
The girls were better treated in death than their govt in Nigeria whose failure in governance pushed them to seek greener pastures abroad.
— ponder (@realanifon) November 17, 2017
Our 26 daughters are being buried in Italy today. Oh that this would be the LAST TIME we’d lose Daughters of Nigeria in such shamefully tragic manner on the Mediterranean Sea! ?? pic.twitter.com/ZzqZ5BdPDs
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) November 17, 2017
Amen.
Reformed social media monitoring spirit
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