A Nigerian Catholic priest, Reverend Benjamin Okwy Madu, has reportedly died by suicide in Massachusetts after expressing fears about returning to Nigeria following the expiration of his U.S. religious worker visa.
The 54-year-old priest passed away on July 2 at his residence in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, where he had been serving as a hospital chaplain and parish priest since 2021.
His R-1 religious worker visa was scheduled to expire on July 29, while his home Diocese of Abakaliki had directed him to return to Nigeria ahead of a new assignment expected to begin on August 4.
According to reports, Madu had repeatedly expressed his reluctance to return to Nigeria, citing concerns for his personal safety. In a farewell message shared with his parish, he said his departure from the United States was not by choice but was due to circumstances beyond his control.
It was also reported that days before his death, he suffered a panic attack while driving to celebrate Mass and was later treated at a hospital.
Boston Archbishop Richard Henning informed fellow clergy that the priest had taken his own life, although the Archdiocese’s public statement announcing his death did not disclose the cause.
Authorities in Massachusetts confirmed that an investigation into the death is ongoing, adding that there is currently no indication of foul play.
The US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition alleged that Madu experienced severe emotional distress over the prospect of returning to a region where Catholic priests have faced kidnappings and violent attacks in recent years. The group also linked his situation to immigration restrictions that reportedly prevented the renewal of his visa.
Born on May 15, 1972, in Nigeria, Madu was ordained at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and had served in the Archdiocese of Boston for nearly six years under successive religious worker visas.
Members of his parish reportedly appealed to political leaders in an effort to help him remain in the United States. Following his death, diaspora and Christian advocacy groups called on U.S. authorities to review deportation policies affecting Nigerians and consider stronger protections for individuals facing security concerns.
