A Catholic priest who died in his abductor’s custody in Kaduna state has been laid to rest without his corpse on Tuesday, June 7.

The 48-year-old priest, identified as Rev. Fr. Joseph Bako Aketeh, was kidnapped along with his brother, Sunday Bako, on March 8 when bandits invaded the parish and killed one security guard.

He was said to have died in the terrorist’s den between April 18 and 19, but his death wasn’t confirmed until Wednesday, May 11.

The funeral mass held at St. John’s Catholic Church Kudenda in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where he was the parish priest.

During the burial, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, said he has never performed a funeral mass without a corpse before.

He said,

“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.

“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.”

See photos from the funeral as you scroll,

Kaduna Catholic priest who died in terrorists

Kaduna Catholic priest