Nigerian Seminarian Who Died During Passion of Christ Drama “was a good guy”: Schoolmate

The news of the demise of the first-year student at CUN went viral on social media shortly after it was confirmed at the hospital on Good Friday.

In the April 18 interview with ACI Africa, Br. Nguaan recounted the events of the fateful day. He said, “It was during the stations of the Cross Drama as we love to dramatize it. Bro. Sule Ambrose nicknamed the Tall Figure was acting in the capacity of Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus.”

“Usually in the drama when Christ was arrested, the disciples do run away and Peter will be following him behind. It was at this juncture that Br. Ambrose Sule, who was Peter, made the declaration to Jesus:  'I will die with you.’ As he was trying to move to the other side of the place to continue with his acting, he slipped off,” the Nigerian Brother recounted.

Seminarian Sule “While trying to run out of the stage, he struggled holding his chest but couldn't succeed, he struggled to move further but was unable then he fell down.”

Credit: Br. Ferdinand Mary Nguaan

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“Initially, we thought it was a joke and that it was part of the drama, but when Br. Sule couldn’t get up, we knew it was a serious matter and that’s why they rushed him to the hospital,” Br. Nguaan said. 

He said his classmate was “unresponsive to treatment at the first hospital he was taken to and was then rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Owerri, where he was pronounced dead.”

In the April 18 interview, Br. Nguaan who serves as the Vice President of the National Association of Philosophy Student (NAPS), Claretians Chapter, described his late classmate as having been “very respectful, very funny at times and very good at performing on stage.”

“Burial date for my friend and brother (School Boy) Tall Figure, Ambrose Sule, will be on Thursday, 21 April 2022,” he told ACI Africa.

The Nigerian Brother recalled that on Palm Sunday, his late colleague “was the commentator for the final Match played between year three and year four students of the same Institute.”

Credit: Br. Ferdinand Mary Nguaan

Br. Nguaan went on to recall his last conversation with the late Seminarian on the eve of his sudden death. He said, “Ambrose chatted with me Thursday night asking me if I will travel so that I will check on his family for him.”

He acknowledged with appreciation the relationship he shared with his late classmate, saying, “Your respect for me was so great.”

Credit: Br. Ferdinand Mary Nguaan

He implored that the soul of Seminarian Sule “and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace”, and added, “Rest in peace my dear Brother.’

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“May God give the family, fellow seminarians and Claretian missionaries the fortitude to bear the loss,” Br. Nguaan said during the April 18 interview with ACI Africa. 

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.