“There shall be a Mass for the peaceful repose of Rev. Fr. Charles Onomhoale Igechi, tomorrow June 9, 2023 at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre's Chapel at 10:00am,” Archbishop Akubeze says, addressing himself to Priests in his Metropolitan See. 

“I entrust you all to the maternal intercession of our Lady of Sorrow,” the Local Ordinary of Benin City Archdiocese says in his June 8 statement on the death of Fr. Onomhoale, who was serving as the Vice Principal of St. Michael College, Ikhueniro.

He implores, “May God continue to guide and protect all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Benin City and may the soul of Rev. Fr. Charles Igechi find peace and tranquility in the loving embrace of our risen Saviour. Amen.”

The June 7 murder of Fr. Onomhoale is the latest in a series of attacks that have targeted members of the Clergy in Africa’s most populous nation.

On June 2, Fr. Stanislaus Mbamara, a Catholic Priest in Nigeria’s Nnewi Diocese was abducted and later set free.

Last month, Fr. Matthias Opara, a Priest of Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri was abducted while returning from a funeral; he was later released on Pentecost Sunday 2023.

Earlier, on May 19, Fr. Jude Kingsley Maduka, a Nigerian Catholic Priest serving in Okigwe Diocese was kidnapped and freed after three days of captivity.

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that includes representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was sworn in on May 29, to prioritize the security concerns and the economic struggles of the people of God in the West African nation.

“Nigeria is facing a number of challenges that require strong and decisive leadership,” Rev. Daniel Okoh said on May 29, and added, “From security concerns to economic struggles, it is clear that there is much work to be done in order to ensure that Nigeria can reach its full potential.”