Tears, prayers and quiet sighs of disbelief filled the air on Tuesday as the ancient community of Kwambai stood still to bid farewell to one of its own, the late Madaki of Kwambai, Andebutop Yakubu Amamra.
From the early hours of the day, mourners began arriving in Kwambai, in the Yangtu Special Development Area of Taraba State, many with faces etched in grief and hearts heavy with loss.
The funeral service at the Reformed Church of Christ for Nations (RCCN), Trinity Kwambai, became an emotional gathering of family members, traditional rulers, security chiefs and sympathisers who had come to honour a man widely regarded as a bridge-builder and father figure.
As hymns echoed through the church, emotions overflowed. Some wept openly, others sat in reflective silence, clutching programmes and whispering prayers. Delivering the sermon, Rev. Abednego Habila Shita described the late Madaki as a devoted and prayerful Christian who lived a life of righteousness and service. Preaching from Matthew 7:21–22 under the theme, “God Sees What Happens on Earth,” he reminded the congregation that genuine faith is reflected in daily conduct, not mere words.
“The late Madaki lived what he believed,” Rev. Shita said, noting that Amamra’s life was marked by humility, love and sincere service to God and humanity. He urged children and youths present to draw inspiration from the deceased by placing their trust in God in all aspects of life.
Earlier, the biography of the deceased, read by Mr. Luka Yamusa, painted a picture of a life cut short but well lived. Andebutop Yakubu Amamra died at the age of 46, leaving behind a grieving family and a community struggling to come to terms with the loss. As Madaki, he served as a respected member of the Kwambai Traditional Council, where his voice was often associated with peace and reconciliation.
Tributes poured in from traditional institutions, as the Kwe Kwambai, Emmanuel Ikoti, alongside representatives of the Mbakina and Mbatiki sub-clans, described the late Madaki as a unifier whose passion for peace and community development stood him out. They encouraged the bereaved family to draw strength from their faith, reminding them that his legacy would endure.
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Speaking for the family, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Christopher Katso, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ishiaku Musa, expressed deep gratitude to all who stood by them during the painful period. Their voices, though composed, carried the weight of loss as they prayed for God’s blessings upon all sympathisers.
At the family compound in Kwambai, the final interment rites were conducted by Rev. Shita. As the earth closed over the grave, tears flowed freely once again, marking the final goodbye to a man many described as “a pillar taken too soon.”
Residents who spoke with our reporter, said the death of the late Madaki was not just a family loss but a heavy blow to the entire Kwambai community and the Yangtu Special Development Area. For many, his absence leaves a void that words can scarcely fill, a reminder of a life devoted to service, peace and faith, now resting in eternity.
