See How Nigerians Treated A Sierra Leonean After Years Of Sojourn In Delta

A Reverend Father, Israel Dibia, has called on Nigerians to shun speeches of hate and acrimony but focus on issues that will engender peace, love and harmony at this critical moment in Nigeria.

Fr. Dibia said the problem of Nigeria could be solved with the message of love and peace, insisting that the country could triumph over its challenges with the simple show of love and peace from all political and religious divides in the country.


The cleric spoke during the burial ceremony of a Sierra Leonean, Babatunde Lewis, who found his way into Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba, the Delta state capital during the trying years of Sierra Leone, prior to the war that ravaged the economy of the West African country.

Babatunde was said to have come to Nigeria in 1983 and could not trace his way back to Sierra Leone after years of sojourn in Nigeria, thereby spending his entire life in the Delta community.

Considering the manner the community took care of him, the Reverend Father said the world is going in a wrong direction because many people who practice religion, place more emphasis on the rituals and forget the true message of love and peace.

The cleric’s message was based on the love the people of the community showed to the Sierra Leonean, who cared so much for him having lost knowledge of his way back to his home country.

He said: “By love everyone will know that you are the children of God. The kingdom of God will not judge you based on the number of bible verses you know or the time you gave to church activities but by the love you show. Babatunde was a man who was prompt in everything he did.”

He commended the people of the community for taking good care of him, giving him accommodation and organizing a befitting burial for someone they never knew from Adam.

Reverend Father Donatus Chukwuedo, who presided over the burial, said the deceased who came into Okpanam and was assimilated into the community life could not trace his family or relatives in Sierra Leone after years of sojourn in the community.

Consequently, he was adopted as a member of the community and given all kinds of treatment that were the exclusive preserve of the indigenes of the area.

He told the people that upon the death of Babatunde, investigation was launched with members of the Nigeria police force and immigration, and based on the report from the police, court affidavits and others, the community took up the burial of the stranger.

He said the Babtunde’s life, death and burial opened a new vista of history for the community, noting that: “We are showing the world that what binds us together as humans is more than blood but love. “It doesn’t matter the circumstance behind his departure and arrival on our shore. The only thing that matters is how well we received and accommodated him in Christ.”

He called on the international community to take cue from what the community people did, noting that Nigerians that are living in some other countries are being maltreated and made to suffer hardship for being not nationals of those countries.

Specifically, he mentioned South Africa, Libya, Italy, Liberia and Germany and other countries of the world, urging them to borrow a leaf from the incidence which had taken place in the Nigerian community.

“Our brothers and sisters are languishing in Libya, Italy, Liberia, Germany, and other countries in the world. These people are only trying to look for greener pastures. “They are being subjected to series of inhuman treatment. This is not fair. We hope these countries can borrow a leaf from what has happened today and do what is right,” Chukwuedo added.