Kadiatu, The Liberian Woman Who Died In Lagos, Finally Buried

Abuja  – The remains of the late Miss Kadiatu Barry, the Liberian woman whose relatives were being traced following her unfortunate death in Lagos, Nigeria, have been finally buried.

The Liberian Embassy in Abuja, in conjunction with the Lagos State Chapter of the Organization of Liberian Communities in Nigeria (OLICON), buried Ms. Barry’s remains at the Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos on Sunday, February 3, 2019, a release from the Embassy says.

The release recalls that a South African woman only identified as Frauline had in early January, 2019 notified the Embassy of the passing of Ms. Barry. The South African had informed the Embassy that prior to Ms. Barry’s death on December 22, 2018, she was unable to talk due to malnutrition and sickness and was taken to the Igondo Hospital in Lagos where she died a day shy of her 31st birthday.

The Embassy then immediately informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia of the situation and also launched a massive search for the relations of the late Barry through various means of communication, including public service announcements and social media posts, the release also recalls.

Few days later, the release recalls, the traced deceased’s relatives contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia following several attempts by the Ministry and the Liberian Embassy here in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abubakar Kanneh, a prominent Liberian residing in Lagos who headed the Liberian Community’s delegation to the late Ms Barry’s burial, has used the situation to admonish his compatriots throughout Nigeria’s 36 states to always find a means to locate and identify with the nearest Liberian Community which is represented in each state.

Mr. Kanneh, also a former vice chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of OLICON, also stressed the importance for every Liberian resident in Nigeria and the Republics of Benin and Equatorial Guinea to always be in touch with the Abuja-based Embassy. 

“OLICON is structured in a way that we have chapter in each state of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”, he stated during a repass held in honor of the late Ms. Barry.

We don’t want to see such a death in the Liberian communities again. We need to be in touch with each other as Liberians outside Liberia. Unity is the true spirit of our beloved country Liberia”, he added. 

Mr. Kanneh then expressed thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Al-Hassan Conteh and the Embassy for their support shown at all times towards every Liberian, “including the cash donation which was used today to pay for our late sister’s mortuary bills, burial ground and other expenses.”