Obarimomoya Nkani’s ear-to-ear smile was perhaps his most famous characteristic, the first-grader’s principal recalled Tuesday at Woodland Elementary School.

“He was always smiling, always happy,” Craig Rupert said. “All the good things that you mouth as platitudes about people were true of him.”

Counselors spent Tuesday helping students and staff cope with the 7-year-old boy’s death Monday in a nearby crosswalk.



http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1066261.html

Obarimomoya’s parents came to Kansas City from Nigeria about nine years ago as refugees, said Martin Okpareke of Jewish Vocational Services. The family dealt with shock and burial arrangements Tuesday for a boy whose name translates into English as Only God Knows, he said.

“In any culture, it’s not appropriate for parents to bury their child,” Okpareke said. “But when the parents — especially for someone who fled an oppressive, repressive government — have to bury their child, it’s even more painful.”

Tuesday was a difficult one at school, too.

SO sad

Very sad!

Lord,Take care of him until his parents come up.

This is so sad. Another Nigerian man and his six year old daughter drowned yesterday in atlanta when the car he was driving went into a lake. It took an hour to get the vehicle out of the lake and by then it was too late to do anything for them. This is all so sad. May their souls rest in peace