It was a somber and heart-wrenching moment on Thursday evening as friends and loved ones mourned the untimely death of Mr. Emmanuel Faworaja, who tragically lost his life to a dog bite just two months after his wedding in Ilorin.
The devastating news of Emmanuel's passing was shared on Twitter by user @donimam4all on July 20, who expressed shock that such a tragedy could happen so close to him. Despite reading and hearing about people being killed by dogs, he never imagined it would affect his own friend.
"Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaehi raajiun, I have read about it, and I have even seen it happen on TV, never knew it will happen so close to me. A dog just took the life of my friend.. I am in every possible pain … Subhanallah!" he wrote in grief.
Emmanuel had tied the knot with his beloved spouse in May 2023, but just two months later, fate dealt a cruel blow, leading to his untimely demise.
In the screenshots of the tweet shared, the pain and sorrow were evident as friends and well-wishers paid their respects to the departed soul.
This unfortunate incident is not an isolated one, as another devastating dog attack occurred in Umuotube village farm road, Chokota Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, where a two-year-old boy fell victim to his family's two dogs.
According to reports, the boy's parents had left for work, and his seven-year-old sister was in charge of taking care of the dogs. However, the dogs turned aggressive and attacked the toddler as soon as they were released from their cage for feeding. Despite the brave attempts of his sister to save him with a stick, the dogs proved relentless and took the boy's life.
The tragic scene was witnessed by neighbors who rushed to the compound upon hearing the girl's cries for help, but sadly, they were unable to save the young boy in time.
In response to the incident, the community's traditional ruler, Ndubuisi Nwankwo, emphasized the need for caution when raising foreign dog breeds, as they can be wild and unfriendly, particularly towards young children. He urged residents to consider employing human security personnel instead of relying on potentially dangerous dogs.
As both communities and families grieve the loss of their loved ones, these incidents serve as a reminder of the potential risks associated with dog ownership and the importance of taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of everyone, especially young children, around animals.
