A Nigerian Catholic priest in Massachusetts, Reverend Benjamin Okwy Madu, died by suicide on July 2, 2026, just days after being ordered to return to Nigeria, where he had repeatedly expressed fear for his life. The 54-year-old priest, who served as a hospital chaplain and parish priest in Lynnfield since 2021, had been under immense emotional distress due to the impending deportation. His religious worker visa was set to expire on July 29, but his home diocese in Abakaliki, Nigeria, instructed him to return even earlier, ahead of a new assignment scheduled for August 4.
Madu had made it clear he did not wish to return to Nigeria, where Catholic clergy have faced increasing threats, including kidnappings and assassinations. In a farewell message posted on his parish’s website days before his death, he stated that returning home was not his choice, but “circumstances beyond my control” had ended his time in the United States. The Sunday before his death, he suffered a panic attack while driving to Mass and was treated at a hospital emergency room, according to a parishioner.
Archbishop Richard Henning of Boston confirmed Madu’s death in an internal email, describing it as a tragedy in which he “tragically took his own life.” However, the Archdiocese’s public statement did not explicitly label the death as suicide. The Essex County District Attorney’s office confirmed the Massachusetts State Police were investigating, but a spokesperson said foul play was not suspected.
The US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition highlighted the role of immigration restrictions in Madu’s death, noting that the frozen visa renewal process under current US policy contributed to his acute emotional distress. The coalition emphasized that Madu’s fear was not unfounded, citing the dangerous environment for clergy in parts of Nigeria. “The terrifying reality of these rigid restrictions was made plain on July 2, 2026, when Father Benjamin Okwy Madu… tragically took his own life,” the coalition stated.
Born on May 15, 1972, Madu was ordained at St Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. He would have celebrated his 25th anniversary in the priesthood on July 7, just five days after his death. He had worked in the Archdiocese of Boston for nearly six years under consecutive R-1 religious worker visas. Despite efforts by parishioners like Arlene Lesch, who contacted political leaders seeking a way to keep him in the US, no path to visa extension was available under current immigration rules.
In response, a coalition of Nigerian diaspora and Christian advocacy groups called on US authorities to halt deportations of Nigerians and grant Temporary Protected Status to Nigerian nationals in the country. Madu’s death has sparked renewed calls for immigration reform and greater protection for vulnerable religious workers facing persecution abroad. His passing underscores the urgent need for humane and compassionate policies that recognize the real dangers faced by individuals like him.
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