Tears Flow as First-Class Graduate Laid to Rest Amidst Calls for Justice

The Port Harcourt cemetery in Rivers State witnessed heart-wrenching scenes on Saturday as the remains of Rebekah Sekidika, a first-class graduate of Microbiology, were laid to rest. Rebekah, aged 24, tragically passed away during a medical procedure at Paragon Clinics and Image Diagnosis in Port Harcourt on February 2, 2024, leaving behind a devastated family and community.

Family members, friends, and mourners, clad in black, gathered at the Military Hospital in Port Harcourt to pay their final respects to Rebekah. Her body was later conveyed to the ‘Vaults and Gardens’ private section of the cemetery, where a somber funeral service was conducted by Bishop Chris Ebata. Rebekah’s younger sibling, Josephine, read from the book of Thessalonians, chapter 4, verses 13 to 15, during the service.

In his exhortation, Bishop Ebata alluded to the circumstances surrounding Rebekah’s untimely demise, urging for systemic improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He offered prayers for the family to find solace in the face of their profound loss, acknowledging death as an inevitable part of life.

Rebekah’s father, Sampson Sekidika, reiterated his demand for justice, attributing his daughter’s death to the “negligence and incompetence” of the medical team. He mourned the loss of a promising young woman who excelled academically and was on the brink of embarking on postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.

Emotions ran high as family members and mourners bid farewell to Rebekah, with tears flowing freely during the viewing of her body and at the graveside. The solemn occasion served as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of loss on loved ones left behind.