On a day meant to retell the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, death instead took the stage. In Ugep, Cross River State, a community is now left grappling with the painful irony of a Passion Play that ended not in celebration, but in sorrow too heavy for words. RICHARD NDOMA writes on how 40-year-old Mr. Michael Obeten, who stood beside the cross at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Ugep, during Station 12 of the performance, was struck by a thunder effect and never made it home alive.
On Good Friday 2026, 40-year-old Mr. Michael Obeten, fondly called “English Man” by friends and parishioners, stood once again beside the cross at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Ugep, Yakurr local government area. Known for his eloquence and quiet devotion, he had become a familiar presence in the annual Passion Play, guiding younger actors and embodying the role he had performed for years with unwavering commitment.
Dawn had broken over Ugep with the familiar rhythm of Holy Week, the scent of paint and sawdust mingling with morning harmattan dust as parishioners gathered in anticipation. Rosaries in hand, they moved through rehearsals and preparations, unaware that the familiar story of suffering and redemption was about to take an irreversible turn. By the time the performance reached its later scenes, what was meant to dramatise sacrifice had instead descended into real-life tragedy, leaving a community in stunned silence.
Michael wasn’t just acting. Parishioners say he lived the part. He had portrayed Jesus Christ in the church’s Passion Play in 2023 and 2024. This year, 2026, he stepped back from the lead role to coach younger actors, guiding them through the Stations of the Cross with the patience of a teacher.
Obeten, a 2012 Mass Communication graduate of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), was known in his community as a man of “deep faith and gentle humour.” Friends and associates described him as a member of the Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) alumni who remained rooted in Ugep even as classmates scattered across Nigeria. He was also the primary caregiver for his father, who uses a wheelchair.
For years, Holy Cross had marked Good Friday with a live dramatization of Christ’s final hours. It is theology as theatre, where scripture becomes sweat, splinters, and real tears. Michael’s portrayal had, for many, become inseparable from the ritual itself.
The play reached Station 12, the moment Jesus dies on the cross. To recreate the thunderous sound described in John 12:28, organiaers traditionally used a local explosive device known as “oginigbo.”
This year, the device malfunctioned. A piece of sharp stone from the debris produced by the “oginigbo” reportedly struck Obeten in the head. According to Mr. Stanley Ebri, who said he witnessed the incident, “Late Mr. Obeten fell down instantly as the stone hit him on the head.” At first, some in the crowd thought it was part of the act.
Blood from his head, nose, and mouth made it clear this was no performance,” witnesses recalled. The black shirt, black trousers, and face cap he wore while assisting with microphones and paint were suddenly stained with something no script had called for.
The crowd panicked as Michael fell to the ground. Parishioners and fellow actors lifted him from the grounds of Holy Cross. He was first rushed to General Hospital, Ugep. Doctors there stabilized him as best as they could before referring him to the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, for specialist care.
As his condition worsened, he was referred onward to Enugu for more advanced treatment. A close friend who accompanied him confirmed that “he passed away on arrival in Enugu.” Other reports indicated that he died at FMC Abakaliki.
While an official autopsy had not been released publicly, eyewitness and alumni statements described “severe brain injuries” caused by debris striking his head. Family sources said he was “knocked unconscious by the blast.”
Yakurr community residents explained that the device was usually buried in the ground away from stones when used during celebrations. This time, it was reportedly placed on top of stones. The blast shattered them, sending fragments flying, and one of the pieces of stone struck Michael.
He had done this for years,” a church member, Precious Ibiang, told LEADERSHIP Weekend. “Nobody ever imagined it would end this way.” Another member, Miss Jane Okorn, echoed: “Every year on Good Friday, Mike always took part, playing the role of Jesus Christ.”
Though he had handed the main role to younger actors, Michael remained the play’s backbone. He assisted actors with microphones, paint, and other needs when the accident occurred, continuing to guide them through rehearsals and performances.
The moniker “English Man” followed him from school to sanctuary. It reflected his diction, his bearing, and the way he translated both news copy and Gospel into language people understood. In Ugep, names carried weight, and he carried affection.
Beyond the church, Michael’s life was anchored by responsibility. He was described by those around him as a devoted son and a pillar of support to his family, caring almost single-handedly for his father, who was confined to a wheelchair.
His 2007 MACOSA Alumni president at UNICROSS, Comrade Augustine Ekpan, described him as “a leader, a unifier, and a friend to many.” He added that Michael’s death was entirely preventable.
The alumni president alleged that the cannon was discharged by individuals they claimed were not licensed to handle such devices. The blast reportedly sent debris flying, striking Obeten in the head.
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