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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
What could be described as ‘Black Sunday’ occurred at the Anglican Diocese of Ughelli on Sunday February 15, 2020 as Ven. K. E. Avworhokai, and others drowned in Okuama/Arhavwarien river in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on their way from a three-day crusade in Okuama, an Eghwu riverine community.
One of the survivors, who didn’t want his name in print, told our correspondent, “We boarded the boat together and it was very early in the morning, around 5am, in order to meet up with the Sunday divine service.
“You know that we are still experiencing dews and high wind in this period especially in the river. The dew and wind in the river are stronger than the ones on land. As we were going, little did our sailor know that another boat was coming from the opposite direction. Before we knew what was happening, the two boats collided and our own capsized immediately.
“Everybody was then struggling to swim ashore to survive but at last, we lost our father, Ven. Avworhokai and the son of Ven. Azugo. It was really a bitter experience to us and a great loss to the entire Ughelli Diocese. We thank God that some of us survived it but that is not to say we are happy over those we lost. I can only tell their families to take heart and look unto Jehovah, the author and finisher of our faith,” he said.
In a telephone chat, one of the priests in the diocese and the vicar of St. James Anglican Church, Oviri-Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, Rev. E. F. O. Ejenavi, said, “In fact, we received the ugly news with rude shock this morning. It’s true that we lost our dear father, Ven. Avworhokai and the son of Ven. Azugo to the cold hands of death as they were returning from a crusade at Okuama. I wanted to go to the crusade but I couldn’t make it because of the burial of our father, late Rev. Lazarus Abiri in my station. It was a diocesan burial and we were the host.
“The shock is still with me even as I speak to you. Well, the only advice I can give to our Mummy and his children and to the family of Ven. Azugo is to just take heart. The deed has done. Let’s not cry like those that don’t have hope. It’s better to console our hearts with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and strongly believe that we shall meet to part no more on the day of resurrection,” he said.
Efforts to speak with the bishop of Ughelli Diocese and the archbishop-elect of Bendel Province, Most Revd Dr. Cyril OdiborOghene Odutemu, over the incident, proved abortive, while the Bishop’s Court was filled with thousands of mourners and sympathizers at the time this reporter visited.
Before his demise, late Ven. K. E. Avworhokai was the archdeacon of Owhrode Archdeaconry of the Ughelli Diocese. He is survived by a wife, Mrs. Harriet Avworhokai, who is the principal of Girls Model Secondary School, Evwreni, children, family members and parishioners.
