Following his death in terrorists’ den, the Kaduna Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Bako Aketeh, was buried today, Tuesday, June 7, without his corpse.
Joseph Bako Aketeh’s funeral mass took place at St. John’s Catholic Church Kudenda in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where he was the parish priest.
In March 8, 2022, bandits attacked the parish and abducted the 48-year-old priest from his residence alongside his brother, Sunday Bako, after killing one security guard.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna confirmed his death and that of his brother on Wednesday, May 11.
The Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, said the late priest had died between April 18 and 20, 2022.
During his homily, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, said he has never performed funeral mass without a corpse.
“This is the first time I am presiding over a funeral mass without the corpse, we hope that one day we would be able to see even if it is his bones,” he said.
“Nigerians are worn out due to weeping, our eyes could no longer produce tears. Bandits are terrorising with impunity. Does our government really care about our pains? Something is happening, they have failed us.
“Nigeria is a country where citizens are treated unequally because of religion and ethnicity. Vices has become a value in our country.”
The archbishop advised the federal government to use Nigeria resources to recruit young men who are willing to fight insecurity in order to defend the country.
Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Kano, Most Rev John Nyring urged Nigerians to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in order to elect leaders that will secure their lives and property.
Bishop Nyring also charged parents to give their children good upbringing in order to have less criminals in the society.
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