‘My dead cousin just proposed to his girlfriend’

What was your cousin’s name?
His name was Afam Egemba. He was about 31
years old.
How did you get to know about the blast?
I was at the Living Faith Church for a
programme. But while there waiting for the event
to start, we heard a blast. It was later on they
told us that the incident happened at the
Terminus Market. My cousin’s shop was just
opposite the scene of the first blast. When we
tried getting him through his phone, the call was
not going through. Later on, someone picked up
the call and told us that he was dead and his
body mangled. But we did not believe because if
his body was mangled how come his phone was
intact and receiving calls? We started looking for
him. We couldn’t find his body until the next day.
We saw over 170 bodies in all at the places we
visited. Some were in terrible shape with body
parts missing. Some were found on the roof of
buildings in the market. Corpses are still being
brought in, so no one can ascertain how many
people really died.
Was his body mangled?
No. He didn’t have any visible injury on him and
we wondered what killed him. Although there
was a lot of blood on him, his body was intact. I
think he died of internal bleeding or shock. His
neighbours at the market only had bruises but
they survived. We don’t know where he was at
the time the blast occurred, maybe he was close
to the car laden with bombs when the first blast
occurred. We were hoping he would wake up
when we saw his body. But seeing how stiff he
was, we knew he was gone. It was difficult
claiming his body. We had to get one of his
pictures from his room to show the hospital
authorities.
How did the family take it?
We all felt very bad. But I learnt a lesson. I
realised that no matter how wealthy one is or
whatever one’s achievement, man is just
nothing. He shouldn’t have died this way. Seeing
him lying there dead with all his achievements
was painful. We were not prepared for his death
neither did we see it coming. He was supposed
to get married this year. He proposed to his
fiancée on Sunday (two days before the
incident). He even fasted for seven days before
he proposed. He had called a family meeting to
tell us that he was getting married this year.
How is your family coping?
Everyone is affected. I’m the only one at home
right now. We are all going for the wake keep
today (Wednesday).
What was he like when alive?
He was tall and a bit bulky. He was very
ambitious because he relocated from the village
a few years ago and first stayed with my aunt.
He was able to start something for himself and
get a shop in the market. He started by with
selling shoes and clothes on tables. Later, he
secured a shop and his business started
growing. He was doing well. He was a respected
person among his colleagues. That was why the
people there, his friends, could not tell us on
time. They only gave us a clue of what
happened. He was also very respectful.
What is your view about the act?
Right now I am speechless. Now, I don’t feel
safe anywhere I go. Right now, I cannot depend
on the government for my safety. I run away
from soldiers when I see them because one
cannot tell these days the real soldiers from
insurgents.
Would you still want to reside in Jos?
Yes, I was born and brought up in Jos. Jos is a
very peaceful place. After a while, things will
return to normal and it will seem as if nothing
happened, though one would always remember
the pains of yesterday. I don’t even feel safe
being a Nigerian. I know they say there is no
place like home, but what of if that home
becomes a danger zone? I’m really scared now.