By Akinwale Kasali
After Four years of futile search for their Father, Nollywood Actor, Uche Odoputa alongside his siblings and family have decided to honour their father by burying an empty casket, since there is no body to be laid to rest.
His father, Kenneth Odoputa was abducted by gunmen three years ago. Till date, his whereabouts remain unknown. Is he dead or alive? Nobody knows, but three years is a long time of waiting.
Following this development, Uche Odoputa has stated the family’s intention to bury a casket symbolizing a burial of their father.
The search for Uche’s father dates back to May 2022, when he travelled to the South-East to visit a longtime friend. Thought to be
an ordinary trip, it turned out to be the greatest nightmare when he and his friend were abducted by armed men.
For the families, the days that followed were filled with uncertainty. There was no information about where the two men were being held or what had happened to them.
The situation became increasingly distressing and worrisome with everyone hoping that the men would eventually return home alive.
The abductors later contacted the families demanding money for their release.
Having paid the demanded ransom, the abductors did not release the abductees, rather, they informed the family that Kenneth had died.
The news turned what had already been a frightening experience into a loss that would affect them for years.
The saddening part of the unfortunate event is the failure in recovering his body to give him a befitting burial rites.
Narrating the family’s ordeal, Uche did a video about the experience with a statement that captured the weight of what his family had gone through:
“May Nigeria never happen to you”, he said.
The Family has set out plans to organise a funeral in a few weeks, using an empty casket because his body has never been recovered.
For them, the ceremony is not simply about having a burial. It is about recognising a life that mattered, giving his memory a place in the family and allowing those who loved him to express their grief.
Explaining the reason behind the decision, Uche said:
“We have no body to lay to rest, but we have his life to remember, his dignity to honour, our love to express.”
According to Uche, the Odoputa family prepares for this farewell, hoping to give Kenneth the honour he deserves and find some measure of comfort after years of uncertainty and grief.
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