By Stanley Ekpenyong, South-south, Bureau Chief
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ died on the cross of calvary following His crucifixion and resurrected after three days in the grave. However, in Ugep, Yakurr local government area of Cross River state, a “Jesus” has lost his life as he prepared to mount the “cross of Ugep” on Good Friday, and unlike the Biblical Jesus, lays stone death in mortuary currently.
For years, the faithful at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ugep, gather every Good Friday to witness a familiar face carry the cross, reminiscing the process leading to the crucifixion and death of Christ on the cross. According to a local tabloid, CrossRiverWatch, Michael Obetan, fondly called “English Man”, did not just act the role of Jesus Christ, he lived it with a quiet devotion that made the annual Passion Play deeply personal for many.
But this year, the story ended differently- tragically for him. The 40-year-old 2012 Mass Communication graduate of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) stepped onto the stage to act “Jesus” as he always did, committed, prepared, and reverent.
His fellow parishioners recall that it was a role he had embodied year after year, becoming almost inseparable from the solemn ritual of Good Friday.
Then, in a moment that has left an entire community in shock, tragedy struck, as the “Jesus of Ugep” tragically died on the cross.
Eyewitnesses say the incident occurred during a dramatic sequence involving simulated gunpowder effects. What was meant to heighten the realism of Christ’s suffering reportedly went horribly wrong, as the discharge accidentally struck Obetan in the head while he was still on stage.
Said CrossRiverWatch: “Every year on Good Friday, Mike always takes part in the Passion of Christ drama, playing the role of Jesus. No one imagined this would be the outcome.”
What followed was a desperate race against time. Friends and parishioners rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. But as his condition worsened, he was referred onward to Enugu for more advanced care. The journey, however, ended in heartbreak.
“A close friend who was with him confirmed that Mike passed away on arrival in Enugu,” another source disclosed.
In death, as in life, Obetan left behind a story layered with haunting symbolism.
Just weeks before the incident, on March 23, 2026, he had shared a reflective piece on his Facebook page titled “When Life Feels Like a Closed Tomb,” authored by Fr. Linus Olom.
The message, drawn from John 11:1-45, told the story of Lazarus, a reminder that even in moments of despair, resurrection and hope remain possible.
The post has since taken on a chilling resonance.
It spoke of God’s timing, of pain, and of the call to “come out” from life’s darkest placeswords that friends now read with a mixture of grief, confusion, and painful introspection.
Social media has since been awashed with emotional tributes, many struggling to make sense of the loss.One user, El-donal Obetan, poured out her grief and questioned: “Uncle Mike, did you actually see this before now? If yes, why didn’t you discuss this with anyone or your spiritual father rather than throwing the family in shambles?
“You made us lose our appetite and nothing seems interesting anymore. Death came calling and you couldn’t resist… Have you thought about Dad, Mom, your extended family and loved ones? Bro Mike, why?”
Beyond the stage and beyond the church, those who knew Obeten describe a man who was more than a performer, a pillar, a steady support system, and a dependable presence within his family and community.
Now, in a cruel twist of fate, a man who spent years portraying sacrifice and resurrection has become the center of a story marked only by loss.
And in Ugep, this Easter, the silence after the final scene feels heavier than ever.
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