Exit of a Hero: Corps Member Collins Ohaegbu Onyebuchi

Friday, December 1st 2017 was a very sad and painful day for the corpers serving in Secondary School, Okat, Akwa Ibom. That was day they lost a friend, colleague and brother to the cold hands of death.

Late Mr. Collins Onyebuchi Ohaegbu, aged 29 years from Ehime Mbano in Imo State, was a Corps member serving in the aforementioned school. It is said that he drowned in Okat River, a day after his send forth from his PPA. He was serving with Batch B Stream II, which is supposedly passing out on the 18th of this month, meaning he passed away just few weeks before his POP (Passing Out Parade).

Late Mr. Collins allegedly went to Okat River on a hot Friday morning with some friends (not to be disclosed) to practice his swimming skills due to the ongoing naval recruitment. Sources say that, after answering a phone call from his brother, he went for his last swim. After a while, when his friends were bent on going back to the lodge, they turned their backs and immediately heard his cry for help.

Due to the fact that none of his friends is an expert swimmer, they couldn't jump in to save him but they rushed to the nearest police station and after much explanation, brought the officers to the place of the incident but it was too late, he had already drowned.

The search for his body was carried out by men with canoes but to no avail, they were asked to wait for three (3) days, after which his body would return to shore. Some people believe that it wasn't ordinary, due to the circumstances that occurred prior to his death, but leave all matters in the hand of God. His friends have been in a state of mourning since the incident. A friend in pain said,

"I feel so much pain in my soul, I've not been able to rest my heart. My soul hurts for the precious soul lost at sea. Its hard to wrap my head around your loss but I pray I understand. But why? Why you? You had so much to look forward to, you were always yourself. Never deceitful, honouring those whom honour is due. You were stubborn but I don't blame you, for it was your nature. Ahhh! You are now past, a memory for us to hold unto very tight..." to read the full post, click here.

The burial ceremony of Late Mr. Collins Onyebuchi Ohaegbu, is taking place today, the 9th of December, at his hometown in Ehime Mbano of Imo State. We say as your body lay at rest underneath our feet, may your soul rest in the bosom of our Lord. For dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return (Gen. 3:19).