It has been an avalanche of sympathy for the past days for Christabel Pollyn, the woman who lost all three of her children to a fire outbreak in Onwo-Kiri (Sandfilled) Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, as women of the area rallied to provide her with psychosocial support.

First was the Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Barasua, who visited her on Tuesday morning with a message from her boss, the Chairman of the LGA, David Irimagha, to wit that she will be supported to have her life back and recover from the trauma she was experiencing at the moment.

Following closely was the Women Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Pepple, who, accompanied by her executive, visited Pollyn on Wednesday to commiserate with her and assure her of the support of Bonny women as she trudges through the distressing experience of losing all her children in one night.

Christabel Pollyn, who lost all three of her children – now late Emmanuel Bluejack, Tamunosa Tolofari and Precious Akachi – to a fire outbreak, which cause was yet unknown as at today, has been distraught since the night of the incident on Monday, January 6, 2020.

The Bonny LGA Chairman, through his Vice, assured the bereaved mother of his administration’s support, urging her to take solace in the fact that she still had her life in front of her being yet young.

In her capacity, Anengi Barasua regretted that “it is unfortunate that you lost all your three children in a very terrible situation”, but pointed out to Pollyn that there was still time to correct the error of having kids while still a teenager, noting that the greater challenge now was making the best out of her situation.

She urged her to rise from the ashes of her predicament and embrace life by resuscitating her quest for education and acquiring of life skills to aid her taking another go at life.

“You should think of what you want to do and my Chairman and I will support you to get back on your feet again. Chairman is on it and we are working on how to support you to get back on your feet. Whatever career or decision you will like to take, if it is business, we will see how we are going to put you into business. If it is school, we will ensure that you get the education that you need.”

“You are yet to be 19 years and you already have three children, unfortunately, we lost them; so, I encourage you to get back to school, put the loss behind you and start afresh. Your life is still there before you and you can rewrite your story.”

“Thank God you are still young and you can correct the situation and you have opportunities in life to correct even the wrongs that you have made. You should allow the past be in the past. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. She should take it as a new beginning and start afresh.”

Meanwhile, the Bonny Kingdom Women Leader, Helen Pepple told Christabel Pollyn that the women of the kingdom identifies with her in this her moment of grief, assuring her that God will turn her mourning into laughter, urging her to remain hopeful as there was so much ahead of her in life.

“We have come here on behalf of Bonny women to identify with you in this defining moment of grief. We cannot question God, all we can do now is to pray that God turns your mourning to laughter. You must know that there is so much ahead for you in life and with God on your side success will be your portion.”

“So be strong, my daughter, Bonny women are with you. We have done the assessment of the incurred damage as a result of the fire incident, we have seen you and I can assure you that you will hear from us in the coming days.”

Pepple was accompanied on the visit by her deputy, Dabota Jumbo, Secretary, Lily Hart, Assistant Secretary, Felicia Allison, Financial Secretary, Silverline Attoni, Treasurer, Boma Ibimam, Organizing Secretary, Pastor Carol Benstowe, and Publicity Secretary, Bernice Tolofari.  

Recall that the Bonny Kingdom Woman Leader had during a reception in her honour by her kinsmen, the Jack-Wilson Pepple House of Bonny Kingdom, promised to work with relevant stakeholders to expand opportunities for the women of the kingdom.

She had stressed that her area of priority would be working in tandem with diverse organizations and well-meaning individuals to give young women who have become mothers in their youth a second chance at life.

Wednesday’s visit appears to be the start of the fulfilment of her pledge, especially, given the circumstance of the tragedy that befell Christabel Pollyn.

The visits of two foremost female personalities in Bonny, Anengi Barasua, who, incidentally, is the first female Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, and Helen Pepple, who, prior to her elevation as Leader of Bonny women, was the first female Secretary of the Bonny Local Government Council, aptly underscores a new dawn for women in the area.