Dr. Chike Akunyili, the murdered husband of the late Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili was on Thursday buried at his Agulu country home in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State.
Akunyili was murdered on 29 September while returning to Enugu from an event in Onitsha, Anambra State where his late wife was given a posthumous award.
He was killed by gunmen along with eight Others at Nkpor in the Idemili North LGA of the state.
Speaking at his burial at Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu, Rev. Father Damian Akunonu said there was no justification for the killing of Dr. Chike.
He said the loss of core values was responsible for the growing criminality in society, and that the murder of Akunyili should serve as a wakeup call to both the state and federal governments to restructure the security architecture of the country.
Rev. Akunonu of the Biggard Seminary, Enugu, who said he officiated the wedding the Akunyilis, said that the couple were fulfilled persons.
He said, “Unfortunately, the place where Chike was murdered had four police stations and the same number of hospitals, yet Chike was not saved. People were rather busy recording video of the incident. Chike was seen in a video clip struggling to save himself after the attack.
“Those in charge of security at both federal and state levels should use this opportunity to restructure the security architecture.
Speaking, one of the late Dr. Chike’s children, Obum Akunyili, said though his father’s death was painful, he (late Chike) was a fulfilled man whose children were doing great in the various areas of their calling.
He said family friends, relations and well-wishers from Canada, United States and other countries attended the burial ceremony.
Those who attended the burial include; a former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his wife, Margret; a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh; Anambra State deputy governor-elect, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim; representatives of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Catholic bishops, among others.
