Oselumhense Anetor, March 27, 2020. 15:00pm

Sister Henrietta Alokha, SSH, who was born on May 11,1967 was laid to rest after her funeral Mass Yesterday, March 26, 2020, at the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Atani, Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria.

At the grave side

Sister Henrietta has been hailed as a modern day Martyr, after she gave up her life to save her students in the gas explosion that shook the Abule Ado axis of Lagos State, Nigeria, on Sunday, March 15, 2020. She had been the Principal of the school till her death. The explosion destroyed many buildings of the Bethlehem Girls College, and injured some of the students.

Sister had courageously gone back into one of the halls to rescue some of the students she thought were still inside when the roof collapsed on her. Since the school gate had collapsed in the blast, many of the girls were helped out of the school compound over one of the fences.

Sr Henrietta Alokha, SSH

The funeral Mass was Presided over by the Archbishop of Benin City and President of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev Augustine Akubeze, with Most Rev Donatus Ogun, Bishop of Uromi Diocese, and Most Rev Gabriel Dunia of Auchi Diocese as concelebrants.

The Mass was also attended by a number of Priests and Religious, who had come to pay the last respects to Sr Henrietta. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, only family members and close relatives were allowed to attend.

Even then, the Mass held in the open field, with the congregation observing the principle of social distancing. May the soul of Sr Henrietta, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.