From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Mr. Joseph Audu, a resident of Kaduna and father of the late Christopher, is a very sad man. Aged by the wicked hands of death, wearied by the bereavement of a dear son, his story is nothing but another sad tale of an injured father.
A few months ago, his life could be described as nothing but sweet. Things were moving well and the landscape of world was full of nurtured hopes and dreams. But all of a sudden, all were gone. At least, for now!
He told Daily Sun that a few weeks ago, his life plunged to depth after he lost his 27-year-old son in touching circumstances.
Describing his late son as a gentle and loving soul, he recalled that the family searched for him throughout the metropolitan area for upward of three weeks:
“When we could not see him for sometime, we became worried. We combed hospitals and police stations but sadly an informant came to inform us that a corpse of a young man was picked up by the police. We were then directed to Sabo Divisional Police Station.
“We were shown the picture where his legs and hands were tied and mouth gagged. I identified his corpse at Gwamna Awan Hospital Mortuary, Nasarawa area, located on the outskirts of the state capital. It was at this point that the police gave approval to release his body for burial.
“My last conversation with Christopher was on March 25 this year in my house here in Gonin-Gora. l did not have any sign that it was going to be my last conversation. It was over domestic family matter. There was no quarrel between us really as l only pointed out some lapses and corrections, which he understood.”
Audu revealed that his son left the family house at Gonin-Gora, back to Buwaya after the family meeting on the fateful day: “My son has accommodation in the family house here in Gonin-Gora, but preferred to rent a room at Buwaya where he felt was conducive for his studies.”
Giving insight into how they found out that something was wrong he stated: “His phone number was not going. l initially attributed it to network or battery failure. But as days passed, our apprehension grew more and more. We got worried so much that we started asking questions and sending messages over his disappearance from the family house at Gonin Gora and his rented apartment at Buwaya.
“My son was friendly especially with his members in the Charismatic group of mostly young men. His motorcycle, which the killers took away is not even a new one. We will miss him greatly for his hard work and struggle to further his education and dedication to God and church activities.”
Christopher’s corpse was discovered at Ungwan Tanko in Buwaya village along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with his legs and hands tied and mouth gagged by unknown assailants. His death sent a shock wave across his immediate community. For instance, his colleagues at the Catholic Charismatic Society of Saint Francis of Assisi, Gonin-Gora, found the news of his passage a hard ball to stomach. They are still in grief.
At the wake-keep held at the family compound, Goni-Gora, the youth and members of the society and church members presented heart moving prayers and worship session for the soul of the deceased. Christopher was buried in Gonin-Gora after Holy Mass at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.