Okeoma with the parents of the deceased in front of their new house.
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
A human rights organisation, Stand For Humanity Foundation, has described the renovation of the home of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Ejugele, whose only son, Daniel Ejugele, 23, was shot dead by armed robbers in Owerri, Imo State, as one of its most significant humanitarian interventions in 2026.
Recall that youthful Ejugele was killed in March 2026 when group of armed robbers attacked him at his business stand around the Control Post axis of Owerri.
His gruesome murder attracted the attention of the Stand For Humanity Foundation, led by its Founder and President, Chidiebube Okeoma, who subsequently visited the grieving parents at their home in Ndegwu community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
Moved by the plight of the elderly couple, the organisation launched an online fundraising and advocacy campaign to mobilise support for them.
The campaign attracted the attention of popular cleric, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, who invited the couple to Lagos, prayed with them and donated N2.5 million to support them.
Obi also commended the role played by the Stand For Humanity Foundation and Okeoma in drawing public attention to the plight of the bereaved couple and donated N200,000 to Okeoma in appreciation of his efforts.
According to Okeoma, a Nigerian living in Turkey, Chike Aguguo from Amucha community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, also contributed significantly to the intervention.
He said Aguguo provided funds for the renovation of the couple’s home, food items and transportation for the couple to travel to Lagos to meet Evangelist Obi, including their feeding and accommodation during the trip.
Other Nigerians, according to the rights advocate, also sent financial assistance and food items to the family through the foundation.
Speaking ahead of the organisation’s end-of-year event scheduled for December, Okeoma said the intervention remained particularly significant among the numerous humanitarian activities undertaken by the Foundation in 2026.
Okeoma, a renowned journalist and human rights advocate, said: “We did a lot of humanitarian interventions in 2026, but the case of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Ejugele, whose only son, Daniel Ejugele, was shot dead by group of armed robbers in Owerri in March this year, stands out for us.
“When we visited the bereaved elderly couple in their house in Ndegwu community, in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, their plight touched us. We immediately launched an online fundraising advocacy for them.
“Nigerians of good hearts responded by donating money and food items for the family. A compassionate Nigerian who lives abroad, Chike Aguguo from Amucha community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, sent money for the renovation of their house and provision of food items.
“He also provided transportation for the couple to travel to Lagos to see Evangelist Ebuka Obi, as well as funds for their feeding and accommodation in Lagos.
“Our advocacy also attracted the attention of Evangelist Ebuka Obi, who invited them to Lagos, prayed for them and supported them with N2.5 million.
“The man of God also gave me N200,000, saying that he loved how I and our organisation championed the project for a better life for the bereaved parents, whose son was a POS operator in Owerri until the day he was shot dead by the armed robbers who attacked him at his business spot and took away the bag he used to keep money.
“Today, the couple are living in a better apartment and have hope for a better life after the shock they experienced earlier in the year following the gruesome murder of their only son.”
Okeoma said the intervention demonstrated the power of collective compassion, noting that the support received from Nigerians at home and abroad had helped the bereaved couple regain hope after the physically and emotionally devastating loss of their only child.
He added that Stand For Humanity Foundation would continue to use its platform to draw attention to the plight of vulnerable Nigerians and mobilise support for people facing difficult circumstances.
