Nigerian Catholic Priest Dies by Suicide in US After Fearing Return Home

A Nigerian Catholic priest serving in the United States, Rev. Benjamin Okwy Madu, has died by suicide in Massachusetts after reportedly expressing fears about returning to Nigeria following the expiration of his religious worker visa.

‎Madu, 54, died on July 2 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 R-1 religious worker visa was due to expire on July 29. However, his home Diocese of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State had directed him to return to Nigeria ahead of a new pastoral assignment scheduled to begin on August 4.

‎Before his death, Madu had publicly stated that he did not wish to return to Nigeria. In a farewell message to parishioners, he said his departure from the United States was “beyond my control.”

‎According to reports, the priest suffered a panic attack while driving to celebrate Mass days before his death and was treated at a hospital.

‎Boston Archbishop Richard Henning later informed fellow priests that Madu had “tragically took his own life,” according to reports by the National Catholic Register. The Archdiocese’s public statement announcing his death did not specify the cause.

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‎Massachusetts State Police confirmed that Madu’s death remains under investigation, adding that foul play is not suspected.

‎Punch report that the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition said the priest experienced severe emotional distress over the prospect of returning to Nigeria, where Catholic clergy have faced increasing cases of kidnappings and violent attacks. The coalition also linked his situation to delays in the renewal of his US religious worker visa.

‎Born on May 15, 1972, Madu was ordained at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki and had served in the Archdiocese of Boston for nearly six years under successive R-1 visas. He was due to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination on July 7, five days after his death.

‎Following the incident, the coalition called on US authorities to suspend deportations of Nigerian nationals and consider granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Nigerians residing in the United States.