𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙐𝙎-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙎𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙏𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙤 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖.

𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙐𝙎-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙎𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙏𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙏𝙤 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖.

A Catholic priest from Nigeria who was on a pastoral mission to the United States of America has taken his own life after the expiration of his visa and following prevailing new visa policy of the USA.

Reverend Father Benjamin Okwy Madu (Father Ben) as he was fondly called by his parishioners, aged 54, took his own life Thursday evening, July 2, 2026 after he reportedly expressed unwillingness to go back to Nigeria because he had fallen in love with the community of Cape Ann, the city of North Shore including the parishioners.

Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning sent a message to fellow priests confirming that Father Ben took his own life.

Local law enforcement and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office investigated the scene and noted that no foul play was suspected.

“Sincerely, it is not my wish to return home right now, but circumstances beyond my control have warranted that my time in the United States come to an end,” Father Ben wrote.

“My heart is broken, yet my joy remains. I will miss the home I found away from home… I will deeply miss the seaside, where I often drive to after Mass to call my family and hear about their Sundays.” he was reported to have posted a farewell message on the parish newsletter.

Father Ben, a 54-year-old Nigerian national from the Diocese of Abakaliki, had been serving as a beloved hospital chaplain and parish priest on the North Shore of Massachusetts since 2021.

His R-1 religious worker visa was expiring, and he was ordered to return to Nigeria. Just days before his death.

The Boston Globe reported that he had expressed deep fears about what would happen to him upon returning to Nigeria, where clergy frequently face severe perils, including violence and kidnapping.