A grieving mother, Mrs Favour Ayuba, whose son, Promise Ayuba, was killed by suspected terrorists in Jos, Plateau State, has sparked emotional reactions after a video of her farewell message to her late son surfaced online.
In the viral video circulating on social media on Friday, the bereaved woman was seen speaking through tears beside her son’s coffin, recounting the pain of losing him in the recent attack.
The mother said she had not eaten since the Palm Sunday attack that claimed the life of her son and several other residents.
The violence occurred on March 29 in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly attacked residents.
The attack, which happened on Palm Sunday, left at least 24 people dead while several others sustained injuries.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks that have continued to trouble communities in Plateau State.
In the video, Mrs Ayuba, speaking in Hausa, expressed deep anguish over the death of her son while standing beside his coffin.
At one point, she brought out a cutlass wrapped in white cloth, which she had concealed under her clothing.
She then placed the cutlass inside the coffin while calling on her late son to avenge his death.
“If you want me to forget, baby, avenge your death. I carried you in my womb for nine months; you suckled at my breast,” she said.
“Baby, I trust you, revenge for me. Revenge for me. Please, wherever they are, follow them and avenge your death.”
Her emotional words were accompanied by intermittent sobbing heard in the background of the video.
During the emotional moment, Mrs Ayuba also recalled that the day of the burial coincided with her son’s birthday.
Despite her grief, she told him she would try to remain strong.
“Today is your birthday. I am grateful to God that today is your birthday, baby,” she said.
“You don’t like seeing me in tears, and I will not weep for you. Baby, I have not eaten since Sunday.”
She added that she would begin to eat again despite the pain of losing him.
“I am begging you, because you have not warmed food for me to eat, but from today I promise you I will eat,” she said.
The grieving mother also referenced the biblical story of Gideon, drawing strength from the narrative while addressing her late son.
According to her, she named him Promise Gideon Ayuba with hope that he would embody the strength and victory associated with the biblical figure.
“I trust you; I named you Promise Gideon Ayuba. Gideon in the Bible went to war and came back victorious,” she added.