On February 25th, 2014, the headline on The Guardian rang, “Boko Haram kills 59 boys at Nigerian boarding school”. Other national dailies had the same story couched in several other words which conveyed the same meaning – 59 Boys had been murdered. It was indeed a painful, senseless and savage massacre.
I have always believed that it was the finest minds that ended up in the Unity schools. In the good old days, it was a thing of great pride to have you or one of yours put on the ‘Pro Unitate’ badge. The standards were high, and we kept our heads high. I don’t think it was any much different with those young brothers in FGC Buni Yadi.
One thing was constant in the mind of every FGC boy – optimism. We always believed that every task or difficulty was surmountable, and all dangers escapable. So I keep wondering, ‘what was on the mind of Goni Ali Ba’amai and the rest of his colleagues as they faced terror that night?’ Did they think, ‘well, this too shall pass?’ When they were being cut down, did they think of the Maths assignment they had to turn in in the next class, or their day wears that needed washing? What did they think of their country, their parents, and their principal? Did they feel let down?
I hope they passed calmly, thinking of their parents and siblings, thinking of the good times they had shared with their colleagues and thinking of the day they’ll meet their loved ones again.
May their deaths always remind us that the young boys had paid the supreme price for learning; therefore we should not relent in making use of our education to better the lot of mankind. The wrong education is worse than no education.
As an old boy, my heart goes out to the family of the slain kids, and the families of every boy, girl, man, and woman that has been slain while the country battled with terrorism, and I pray that God will give the departed rest; and peace to the living.
#ProUnitate
#VivaBuniYadi59
