Nigerian Catholic priest dies in the US weeks before planned return home.

A Nigerian Catholic priest, Reverend Father Benjamin Okwy Madu, has died in the United States in an apparent suicide, just weeks before he was due to return to Nigeria following the expiration of his religious worker visa.

He was 54 years old.
Father Madu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, was found dead on July 2 at his residence in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. According to NBC News, a person familiar with the matter said the cleric died by suicide. While authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause of death, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office said foul play is not suspected. An autopsy was expected to be carried out as officials worked to reach his relatives in Nigeria.
The late priest had served as a chaplain at Salem Hospital since 2021 and also ministered at St. Ann’s and Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, as well as St. Joachim’s in Rockport. His death came shortly before the expiration of his R-1 religious worker visa on July 29. Church officials said his home diocese had directed him to return to Nigeria earlier in July, ahead of the original schedule, in line with U.S. immigration requirements.
In a farewell message published on his parish website last month, Father Madu wrote that although returning home was not his desire, circumstances beyond his control had made it necessary. He expressed hope of returning to continue serving the community he had grown to love.
Reacting to his passing, Father Jim Achadinha described the incident as a “devastating loss,” praising Father Madu’s joyful, kind and generous service to the parish. Archbishop Richard Henning of the Archdiocese of Boston also extended condolences to his family, fellow priests and friends in Nigeria, as well as the many people he ministered to in Massachusetts.
Tuesday would have marked the 25th anniversary of Father Madu’s ordination to the priesthood at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki. As of the time of filing this report, the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki had not issued an official statement on his death.