A community in Cross River State has been plunged into mourning after a Passion of Christ rehearsal ended in tragedy, claiming the life of a young actor and university graduate, Michael Nnanke Obeten.

Obeten, a Mass Communication graduate of the University of Cross River State UNICROSS and a well-known Passion play performer, was fatally struck during a rehearsal in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area. He had become a familiar face in the annual Good Friday dramatization, having played the role of Jesus Christ in recent editions of the production.

Witnesses and associates say the incident occurred at station 12 of the Passion narrative, the point where Jesus is depicted as dying on the cross. To heighten the drama, organizers deployed a locally fabricated cannon, known in the area as “oginigbo,” intended to simulate the sound of thunder. Instead, the device malfunctioned.

When the cannon was discharged, metal fragments and debris were reportedly propelled into the crowd. A sharp piece of iron struck Obeten on the head, causing catastrophic brain injuries. He was rushed to a medical facility and prepared for emergency surgery, but doctors were unable to save his life.

Obeten, popularly called “Englishman” by friends and colleagues, was a member of the 2007 Macosite Alumni Group of UNICROSS. In a formal statement signed by Lesoda Ada on behalf of the group and circulated to local media, the alumni alleged that the cannon was handled by individuals who were not licensed to operate firearms or explosive devices.

The group described his death as both tragic and avoidable, insisting that basic safety measures could have prevented the incident. They portrayed Obeten as a unifying figure, an organizer and mentor who devoted his time to coaching younger actors in the community’s religious drama.

In the wake of the incident, the alumni are demanding a full-scale investigation to identify those responsible for firing the cannon and to examine the safety protocols, or lack thereof, put in place by the event organizers. They are calling for prosecutions where negligence is established.

Beyond accountability for this single event, the group is urging authorities to impose an outright ban on the use of cannons and similar devices at public religious and cultural gatherings. They argue that unregulated explosives and firearms pose an unacceptable risk to worshippers and performers alike and should be restricted strictly to licensed professionals under controlled conditions.

The alumni warn that unless firm action is taken, the continued use of such devices at public events will remain a looming safety crisis, with the potential to claim more lives.