Rev. Benjamin Okwy Madu, a Nigerian Catholic priest serving in the United States, has committed su!cide after reportedly struggling with the prospect of returning to Nigeria, where he had expressed fears for his safety
The 54-year-old priest d!ed 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.
Madu’s religious worker visa was due to expire on July 29, but he had been directed by the Diocese of Abakaliki to return to Nigeria ahead of a new assignment scheduled for August 4.
According to reports, the priest had repeatedly said he did not want to return. In a farewell message to parishioners, he noted that leaving the United States was not his decision but was caused by circumstances beyond his control.
Days before his de.ath, Madu reportedly suffered a panic attack while driving to celebrate Mass and was treated at a hospital.
Boston Archbishop Richard Henning later informed fellow priests that Madu had taken his own life, while the Essex County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that an investigation was underway and that there was no evidence of foul play.
The US Nigeria Civil Society Coalition said the priest experienced severe emotional distress over the possibility of returning to a region where Catholic clergy have increasingly been targeted by kidnappers and armed attackers.
Born on May 15, 1972, Madu was ordained at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and would have marked his 25th anniversary as a priest on July 7, just five days after his de.ath.
The Archdiocese of Boston also said there was no available pathway to extend his visa under current US immigration policies affecting Nigeria.