Plans Underway for Funeral of Murdered Nigerian Monk as Search for Body Hits a Snag

He added, “The joint task-force went deep into the forest following the river where the body of Godwin had been thrown. They got to a point where they were very exhausted. They also started seeing some of the Fulani herdsmen who are notorious for attacking people. Godwin’s father told them to retreat.”

Meanwhile, Br. Godwin’s father has asked that the funeral of his deceased son be arranged as soon as possible. 

“He wouldn’t want the torture to be prolonged,” Fr. Ekesiobi says, adding that a funeral committee at the Monastery has been constituted and is meeting to reach a decision, which will be communicated to the Diocesan Administrator to set a date for Br. Godwin’s funeral service.

Noting that the Monastery has not lost hope of recovering Br. Godwin’s body, the Priest says, “Hunters on the search party agreed to continue with the search and to inform our community of any developments. We are hoping and praying that the body will be found.”

Br. Godwin was kidnapped at around 1 a.m. on October 17 alongside Br. Anthony Eze and Br. Peter Olarewaju as they slept in the Novitiate block of their community.

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While Br. Anthony and Br. Peter were set free on October 21, Br. Godwin, aged only 31, was shot and his body thrown into a river on October 18, a day after his kidnapping.

Eulogizing the murdered monk, Fr. Ekesiobi said, “Br. Godwin lived a contemplative life. I remember him as a very easygoing young man. He was very jovial and very prayerful.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.