A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Benjamin Okwy Madu, has died in Massachusetts, United States, days after he was instructed to leave the country and return to Nigeria, where he had reportedly expressed concerns about his safety.
Rev. Madu, 54, was found dead at his residence in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, according to the Archdiocese of Boston, where he had served as a hospital chaplain and parish priest since 2021.
His religious worker visa was set to expire on July 29. However, his home Diocese of Abakaliki had directed him to return to Nigeria ahead of a new pastoral assignment scheduled to begin on August 4.
Reports said the priest had repeatedly expressed reluctance to return to Nigeria. In a farewell message to parishioners, he said his departure was not voluntary but was due to circumstances beyond his control.
The Archdiocese disclosed that Madu had recently suffered a panic attack while driving to celebrate Mass and was treated at a hospital emergency department.
Archbishop Richard Henning later informed fellow priests that Madu had died by suicide. The Archdiocese’s public announcement of his death did not state the cause.
A US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition alleged that the priest experienced severe emotional distress over the prospect of returning to a region where Catholic clergy have faced kidnappings and attacks. The group also said his inability to renew his US religious worker visa contributed to the situation.
Following his death, the coalition urged US authorities to suspend deportations of Nigerians and consider granting Temporary Protected Status to Nigerian nationals residing in the United States.
