Umahi offers scholarship to children of murdered couple

From Steve Oko, Umuahia

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has offered scholarship to all three surviving children of the slain Abia -based Ebonyi business couple.

The victims, Mr. Darlington Uzonwa and Mrs Chinyere Uzonwa were brutally murdered by dare-devil armed robbers along Secretariat Road, Umuahia, the Abia State capital on January 25, 2020.

They were dispossessed of their cash before being shot dead by their assailants.

Their children, two of who were with them in the family car when the incident occurred, escaped the robbers’ bullets by providence.

The victims had since been buried in their hometown of Ugwuegu, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

But Gov. Umahi last week invited the children of the victims and their guardians to Government House, Abakaliki for a meeting.

The governor, who expressed shock and sadness over the ugly incident, condoled with the family and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to overcome the shock.

He announced a donation of N3 million for the secondary education of the children as well as their up-keep.

Umahi equally pledged that the State Government would cater for the university education of the children once they were through with secondary school.

The affected children – Priscillia , 16; Solomon , 15; and Judith, 12; are all in secondary school.

The governor urged them not to despair but repose confidence in God, assuring that the state would not abandon them.

His words: “Be courageous. I stand with you. Before leaving office I will make sure I pay for your university education.”

Responding, the son of the deceased, Solomon, thanked the governor for coming to their rescue.

He said they would be eternally grateful to Gov. Umahi for the kind gesture, adding that they will not disappoint the state.

In his response, their uncle, Mr. Gregory Uzonwa poured encomium on Gov. Umahi who he said had shown uncommon love for the family.

He said the Governor’s gesture would go a long way in assisting the family to overcome the trauma of the tragedy.

“Today we have seen the biblical David in Ebonyi. You have given us hope when the Iroko of our family fell down. You have lifted our spirit and rekindled our hope. God will show you uncommon favour for this gesture “.

Uzonwa promised to ensure judicious use of the money provided by the governor for the purpose it was donated.