“The Knights of St. John International, Enugu Grand Commandery, bemoan the gruesome murder of Noble Brother Chike John Akunyili KSS. Noble Bro. Akunyili was initiated into the Ancient and Noble Order of St. Johns International, in the Holy Spirit Commandery 414, Enugu. Thereafter, he progressed to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Degrees and was exemplified finally into the 5th Degree (Noble) in 2018. He was also a Papal Knight.
“The murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 by suspected Unknown Gun Men at Afor Nkpor Market, Nkpor, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State is despicable, sad, shocking through the hearts of millions of Nigerians. Noble Brother, Dr. Chike Akuniyil, an Enugu based Medical Practitioner was the widower of late Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Knights of St. John International, Enugu Grand Commandery, are sad and despondent on the news of the death of Noble Brother (Dr.) Chike Akunyili, our respected member and medical practitioner of repute, who volunteered his services to the Church and conducted several charitable free medical treatments on seminarians at Bigard Seminary, Enugu and the Clergy at all level. Dr. Chike Akunyili, was a patriot and medical missionary who deployed his skills and craft as a Doctor to reach out to hundreds and thousands of people in over four decades of his long career as a Physician.
“We mourn the demise of Dr. Sir. Akunyili and other victims of violent killings in Anambra State and other parts of Nigeria. Let’s stop this orgy of violence in Nigeria. The rising spate of violence and wanton killings in the South East and other parts of the country is unacceptable and a bad omen for Nigeria at 61 years of independence.
“We, the members of Knights of St. John International, urge the government to step its game by strengthening security system, assuring citizens of their safety as well as bringing perpetrators of this macabre violence to justice and adequate punishment as deterrent. We offer our condolences and prayers for the repose of his soul and those of other departed persons to find peaceful rest. We condole his family, friends and loved ones. May God give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“Time for Action: The rising incidence of killings and destruction of lives and properties in the country, calls for urgent action. We of Knights of St. John International noted the huge burden on the government and citizenry alike as stakeholders, and call for an inclusive and sustainable
solution.
“The members of the Knights of St. John International, Enugu Grand Commandery, wish to sound a clarion call on all stakeholders, the government and citizens, Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, Business leaders, Professional groups, and indeed all Nigerians to collaborate and work out a sustainable solution to the menace of violence to save the country from sliding into irredeemable anarchy that may befall us if we fail to act on time. Violence begets violence, and we cannot continue to progress as a Nation under such instability.
“As members of Knights of St. John International, Enugu Grand Commandery, we owe our conscience and posterity a sense of responsibility to speak up against these hordes of evil, perpetuated by unholy alliances by the forces of iniquity and perdition. We are also worried that the circles of violence gradually graduated from insurgency in North East; banditry in North West; herders-farmers crises in North Central; separatist agitations in Southern States and recently, the evil narrative of the unknown gun men in the South East.
“As Nigeria just celebrated her 61st Independence Anniversary, and apart from the civil war years, the country has never descended into this level of infamy with a desecration of the sanctity of human life. Let’s restore the dignity of the human life once again in our country.
“Let’s restore equity and justice in the country. Let’s restore the fear of God in our country. In particular, we appeal to the Governments at all levels, to equip and strengthen the security apparatus in this country to protect the lives and property of its citizens. May God grant our leaders courage to rise up to occasion and save our dear nation, Nigeria.”
Enugu Grand Commandery,
Knights of St. John International.