- As Dorathy was buried amidst sorrow, tears
As the slain Greenfield University student, Dorathy Tirnom Yahonna was buried in Kaduna on Wednesday amidst tears, her father, Mr Yohanna S. Meck lamented that bandits had truncated a deal he had with his daughter.
Fighting tears back in his face, Meck simply said his consolation is in the fact that, Dorathy did not disappoint him, as according to him, Dorathy almost fulfilled her own part of the bargain before her death came calling.
The father who was filled with emotion said, “up till the time Tirnom was killed, I never believed the kidnappers would kill any of them”.
He said he can only imagine how his daughter would have begged the bandits for her life, how they refused to hear her plea and still gunned her down.
“I had a deal with my daughter. We did not conclude it because some people interrupted us, and God who knows the end from the beginning, approved the interruption so that Tirnom can go to His place.
“I have no objection to that my daughter, but my consolation is that you did not disappoint me, you almost fulfilled your own part of the bargain. But God in His wisdom did what is right and you have gone to rest.
“How I wish however, that you come and show me what happened and how it happened.
“I can only imagine how you were pleading with the gunners when they were to hit you with the bullet and how they refused to hear your plea and still gunned you down. I could feel the pains in my veins; I could imagine the trauma!!
“But I take solace in the word of the Lord, to give thanks to God in all situation. My dear lovely daughter, rest in the Lord. I am bidding you goodbye in pains because I had not thought of burying my child or my younger ones. May we be comforted: rest well my Daughter,” Mr Meck said painfully.
He recalled that, his temperament did not allow him speak with the kidnappers who spoke with his wife while their daughter was in captivity, because he was scared his temperament might anger the bandits to hurt his daughter.
“They spoke with her (Tirnom) mother and asked for N800 million but she told them we can’t raise such money. Then, they told her that we should go and tell Governor El-Rufai and the school management to give us the money,” he said.
The mother in her own tribute said, since her daughter’s days had been numbered by God, she is giving all the glory to God.
“My greatest joy is that I spoke with you when you were in the hands of your captors. I told you to hold unto your God, not knowing that we will not see or talk again in this life. Well, I believe you are resting with the Lord. I will really miss you,” she said.
The remains of Dorathy Tirnom Yohanna was however interred at the Barnawa GRA cemetery amidst tears and wailing by family and loved ones.