Tributes to Fiacre Gbédji, the Beninese guide to the two ex-hostages released Friday, who was killed during their kidnapping in northern Benin in early May, have multiplied over the weekend on the social network Twitter. In Benin and on the web, many testimonies regretted the little echoes that had its death in comparison with the mediatization granted to the kidnapping of the two French nationals, finally released unharmed in the north of Burkina Faso ten days after their abduction.
"His name was Fiacre Gbédji, he was a guide in the park of Pendjari, Benin, he will not have a tribute, no special show ... That he has at least his picture here," he said. wrote a user on the social network. "Peace to your soul son of Africa # FiacreGbédji", wrote another in tribute to the guide. His body was found on May 4, very damaged, close to the border in the park of Pendjari where the kidnappers got rid of him before fleeing to neighboring Burkina where operates many jihadist groups.
His name was Fiacre Gbédji. He was a guide in the park of Pendjari, Benin.
He will not have a tribute, no special show ...
That he has at least here his picture. pic.twitter.com/IIeJpUvkDo
He had founded an orphanage with the help of tourists
The daily La Libre Belgique has written an article stating that "many young Belgians and their teachers knew him": through a project called Move With Africa, set up with the newspaper, Fiacre Gbédji "made discover his culture and his country to students coming in a process of education for citizenship ". His brother, Alexander, confirmed that their family home, in Natitingou (northern Benin), "has seen hundreds of tourists parade," which Fiacre was proud to bring home to them to discover his hometown.
"Fiacre will be missed, it is one of the best guides we had," also told AFP the director of the tourist complex of the Pendjari where the tragedy took place, James Terjanian. This professional guide, much appreciated by his colleagues and most people who knew him, would soon be 30 years old, and had six children. In addition to his guide activities, he had founded an orphanage with the support of some tourists, said one of his close friends.