Tears and grief filled the Saint Michael’s Catholic Church Futru-Nkwen on Saturday as hundreds gathered to bid farewell to Ngemnyi Rosy-Bright Asafor, the 11-year-old girl who was shot dead on Monday, 1 September 2025.
The funeral Mass, which drew an overflow congregation, was celebrated by more than six priests. The church was packed beyond capacity, with mourners spilling outside, as the community united in sorrow over the tragic death of a child many described as “bright, humble, and deeply devoted.”
Parish Priest Fr. Jason Muluh, in a moving homily, captured the pain of the moment, describing the killing as “incomprehensible violence” that words could not explain.
“Our hearts are indignant, torn apart and asking why? There are no human words that can make sense of such an act. We must not look for answers in the logic of this broken world, but in the eternal logic of God’s love.” he said
Quoting from the Book of Wisdom, he reminded the congregation that “God does not measure a life by its length, but by its love,” adding that Rosy-Bright, in her short years, had lived with a faith and devotion that surpassed many.
The priest recalled her strong presence in the parish, her constant participation in the Readers’ Group, Small Christian Community meetings, and especially her role as a Cadet of Mary.
“She didn’t just play at being a priest; she embodied the heart of priesthood through prayers and intercession. Now she has been promoted. She is in the eternal sanctuary of heaven, a perpetual intercessor for her family, her cadets, and her community.” Fr. Muluh stated.
As the Magnificat was sung at the end of the Mass, white handkerchiefs waved in the air. The hymn, Mary’s ancient song of faith and defiance, carried the congregation’s grief heavenward. For many, it was a collective plea for healing and justice.
Young cadets wept openly, mourning the loss of one of their own.
“Even as children, they understood they had lost a sister,” one mourner whispered, as the congregation struggled to hold back tears.
The priest did not shy away from condemning the killing. He denounced the perpetrators as “cowards,” stressing that while justice belongs to God, the community’s duty is to “refuse to let fear dominate us, to oppose darkness with love and courage.”
Rosy-Bright’s life, he concluded, was “like a candle in the wind. Its flame struck down too soon by violence, yet not extinguished.” He urged the faithful to carry forward her light, to let it shine as resistance to despair.
Body of Rosy-Bright taken out of Church after Holy Mass After the Mass, the community lifted Rosy-Bright’s coffin and carried it through the streets of Nkwen for close to an hour. With prayers, chants and tears, they called upon God and their ancestors to render justice for the young girl, whose life was ended so brutally.
As the procession finally reached her resting place, the pain of Nkwen was unmistakable. The community has lost a child, but in her memory, they found a rallying cry for faith, justice, and hope.
Summary of the Homily by Fr Jason Muluh
Key points from the sermon at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Futru-Nkwen:
- The violence that claimed Rosy-Bright’s life is “incomprehensible”, leaving hearts indignant and torn, beyond human explanation.
- Scripture (Book of Wisdom) teaches that God measures a life not by its length but by its love; in 11 years she reached a depth many never attain.
- She lived her faith actively from Readers’ Group, Small Christian Community, and as a Cadet of Mary to serving with humility and devotion.
- She “embodied the heart of priesthood”: a bridge through prayer and intercession, bringing people to God and God to people.
- She is not lost but “promoted” to the eternal sanctuary of heaven, a perpetual intercessor for her family, cadets, parish and community.
- The perpetrators were condemned as “cowards”; the faithful were urged to reject vengeance, placing anger at the foot of the Cross and standing firm in courage and love.
- Her life was likened to a “candle in the wind”: the flame not extinguished but transferred to burn with an inextinguishable light before God.
Be Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom in Nkwen
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77
