Candle light service held in honor of Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede, body to be flown to Nigeria for burial

A candle light ceremony was held in honor of late Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede at EMU Chapel, Famagusta, on Friday.

The ceremony held at the at the Eastern Mediterranean University Chapel in "Famagusta started at 3:00pm and in attendance were his father, Makatai Peter Dede, his sister Miriam Dede and his friends.

His father, Makatai Peter Dede arrived the TRNC on Thursday to attended the ceremony.

Candles were lit and prayers offered for Kennedy at the ceremony.

Priest offering prayer

Reacting to his death, his father who was moved to tears by the sad news said his son did not deserve to die expressing how important he was to the family.

Mr. Peter thanked the Nigerian students community and everyone for their courage and support to his son and for the peaceful demonstrations held to ensure that such an incident does not repeat itself again, demanding justice for his son.

Mr. Makatai Peter Dede, father of Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede could not hold his tears

Speaking during the ceremony, his sister, Miriam Dede, said;

I am in a lot of pain. I lost my brother who was always there for me when I needed to eat. I did not even have a chance to say goodbye to him, but I'm proud of him.

She called on relevant authorities in the TRNC to make sure similar incidents do not repeat itself in future so that others do not suffer the same pain. She thanked the university and the church for their support.

Following the ceremony, his body will be sent to Nigeria for burial.

Friends and Nigerian students at the ceremony

Kennedy's murder shook the entire North Cyprus causing tension and unrest among international students while series of protests by the Nigerian community demanding justice for Kennedy was held in various parts of the country.

Dede before his untimely death, was an Architecture student at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Magusa and has represented and won medals for the university in several sporting events.

Friends at the ceremony

He was kidnapped by 7 people on Monday, January, 29 from his resident in Magusa and then taken to the Çanakkale lake in the outskirt of the city where he was seriously beaten and killed.

Following the incident, 7 suspects connected with the murder were arrested and charged to court for murder, human abduction and serious assault.