The bravery of 35-year-old Mrs Kyerna Jonathan, who used her body to shield two of her children during a deadly gun attack, has been praised by a resident of Port Harcourt.
Jonathan displayed extraordinary courage in Bin Mper village, Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State when armed men stormed their community.
A senior cleric with the Church of Christ in Nations COCIN, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, narrated that “armed assailants stormed the community and forced their way into Kyerna’s home by shooting at the door locks.
“Her husband, Jonathan Ishaku, who was keeping watch outside, had no time to evacuate the family and sought refuge in a nearby cornfield as the attackers approached.
“Inside the bedroom, where Kyerna was sleeping with her five children, the gunmen opened fire. With seconds to react, Kyerna threw herself over her two youngest children, using her own body as a human shield.
“She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back before the attackers fled, believing she was dead.
“While the two children she shielded emerged completely unharmed, tragic losses were recorded. Kyerna was unable to reach her three other children in the chaos, all of whom lost their lives during the attack.
“Rescuers later transported the severely injured mother to a hospital, where she is currently receiving medical treatment and recovering from her wounds.
“The three deceased children were among 25 victims buried in the community the following morning.”
Reacting to this in an interview with TNN, Mr Paul Ikechukwu described her courage as extraordinary.
Ikechukwu noted that, “This is love, selfless and sacrificial sacrifice, the kind that words can hardly describe.
“She is a remarkable mother, her bravery is worthy of admiration and respect.
“In the face of such danger, she put her own life on the line to shield her children, she is a mother hen indeed.”
