…From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…
Oyo State Government has distributed a sum of N28 million to the families of Bodija traders who were recently killed by suspected members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State while on business trip.
The State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi distributed the cheques to the families of the affected traders at the Bodija Market.
A sum of N2 million was presented to each of the 14 representatives of the deceased who were mainly widows of the deceased and an aged woman who also lost her son in the incident.
The governor had, during his recent visit to the market, announced the donation of the sum of N30 million to the families of the traders to mitigate the effect of the loss of their loved ones to the Boko Haram insurgency.
“You cannot pay for people’s lives but at least, we can cushion the effects of their departure by helping their families,’’ he had said.
Governor Ajimobi, who described the gruesome killing of the traders as unfortunate, urged the families of the affected traders to take it as an act of God.
One of the widows, Mrs. Folasade Afolabi, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed appreciation to Governor Ajimobi for identifying with them during their trying period.
Mrs. Afolabi, who betrayed emotion, also thanked the governor for the kind gestures, saying that it would at least mitigate their losses and allow them to move on with their lives
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ibadan Foodstuff Sellers Association, Alhaji Olalekan Azeez called on the Federal Government to ensure improved security in the Northern part of the country to forestall future occurrence.