TheCable

Tears flowed freely at Saints Simon and Jude Seminary Kuje, Abuja, where a funeral mass held for Michael Akawu, a reverend father, who was shot dead by armed robbers in the Gwagwalada area of the nitoon’s capital.

John Onayeikan, Catholic bishop of Abuja, who ordained the deceased could not hold back tears, just as many catholic priests, family members, relatives wept publicly.

Akawu, who was just 18 months in priesthood, was until his death the assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Dobi, Abuja.

His coffin in front of the altar during the funeral mass

On Thursday, Late Rev. Akawu’s body left University Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada for Immaculate Conception Parish Dobi for a mass, from where it departed to Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, for three different masses of the wake.

Onaiyekan laying hands on the deceased during his ordination in February 2017

The funeral mass also held at OLQN Pro-Cathedral from where activities moved to priests burial ground at the Ss Simon and Jude Minor Seminary, Kuje, for internment.

Paul Salami, parish priest at Dobi, said the death of the young priest had left the whole parish devastated.

Salami, who was visibly broken, said the death of his colleague and friend cut so deeply as he prayed God to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

Akawu was Saturday evening shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen at a supermarket in Gwagwalada where he was said to have gone shopping.