By Yahaya Idris
The remains of the late Mr. Idris Ahmed Toto, a former correspondent of Daily Monitor Newspapers, who died on Tuesday at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, have been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
The funeral, held at the Gwagwalada Cemetery, attracted a large gathering of sympathisers, politicians, businessmen, prominent Egbura leaders, family members including journalists, friends and well-wishers who converged on the cemetery to pay their last respects to the deceased journalist.
Among the dignitaries present were two members of the Kogi State House of Assembly: Hon. Idrees Aliyu Makurdi Girinya, representing Kogi/Koto State Constituency, and Hon. Jibril Abu II, representing Ajaokuta State Constituency.
Other prominent personalities from the Egbura extraction who attended the funeral included Alhaji Halidu Salihu, the Madaki of Toto and elder brother of the late Alhaji Abdulsalam; Alhaji Abdulkarim Ohizi; representatives of Ayikwu Egbira; and the former Secretary of Toto Local Government Council, Hon. Ibrahim Aguma.
The burial also attracted mourners from different parts of the country, underscoring the wide circle of relationships, goodwill and personal connections the late journalist cultivated during his lifetime.
At the conclusion of the funeral prayers, sympathisers prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul, asking Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and give the family he left behind the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The late Idris Ahmed Toto is survived by two wives and ten children, namely Buhari Idris, Yahaya Idris, Fatima Idris, Aishat Idris, Zainab Idris, Abdulgafar Idris, Suleiman Idris, Abdulwahab Idris, Maryam Idris and Amina Idris.
He died at the age of 63 after a protracted illness.
His death marks the end of a life whose memories will remain cherished by his famil
