By BONIFACE AKARAH

International human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe has blamed the death of Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Okwy Madu, on United States visa restrictions affecting Nigerians, urging the Trump administration to reverse the policy while calling on the Federal Government to support Nigerians detained by U.S. immigration authorities.

Ogebe, in a statement released alongside a petition by the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, said Father Madu died in the United States after allegedly facing the prospect of returning to Nigeria when he could no longer extend his religious worker visa. He also appealed to the Federal Government, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to provide consular assistance for Nigerians in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He said, "I am deeply saddened by the death of Father Ben Madu here in the U.S." He added, "Father Ben is a casualty of the situation in Nigeria with an assist by xenophobic US policy." Ogebe further urged authorities to "assist Nigerians currently in ICE custody with consular support and a smooth repatriation system in recognition of their significant contributions of billions to the economy."

According to him, Father Madu died just days after a Nigerian nun, Sister Letty Ugboaja, was reportedly detained by ICE while on her way to church, despite both being in the United States legally and having no criminal records.

Ogebe argued that it was contradictory for the United States to acknowledge the persecution of Christians in Nigeria while denying visa relief to a Catholic priest serving American communities.

"The U.S. has acknowledged the Christian persecution and is fighting the terrorists, so how would it even make any sense to deny Father Ben a visa extension to remain in America where they both were caring for and serving Americans in their communities?" he said.

The lawyer also cited what he described as the contributions of Nigerians abroad, pointing to the performance of Nigerian-born footballers representing different countries at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

"A further clear cut example of Nigerians adding value to society is soccer champion Folarin Balogun, America's top scorer in the ongoing World Cup. There are 15 Nigerians in the World Cup representing nine countries," Ogebe stated.

He maintained that President Donald Trump should reverse the visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians, arguing that deporting them to an environment plagued by insecurity could expose them to grave danger.

"It’s bad enough he’s not letting the Gwoza refugees come to US after waiting 12 years in Cameroun but it’s simply horrific to send Nigerians from safety back to danger in Nigeria," he said.

The accompanying coalition statement alleged that Father Madu, a 54-year-old priest serving as a hospital chaplain and parish priest in Massachusetts, experienced severe emotional distress after learning that his legal stay in the United States was coming to an end.

According to the coalition, Father Madu had expressed fears about returning to Nigeria because of attacks, kidnappings and killings targeting Catholic clergy.

The coalition quoted him as writing in a farewell message to his congregation: "My heart is broken, yet my joy remains... I will soon return to Africa, specifically Nigeria, my homeland... Circumstances beyond my control have warranted my time in the United States come to an end."

It said Father Madu died on July 2, 2026, just days before he was expected to leave the United States, describing his death as a tragic consequence of immigration restrictions and worsening insecurity in Nigeria.

The coalition is urging the Trump administration to halt deportations of Nigerians whose lives may be at risk, grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Nigerians already in the United States, and review visa policies affecting clergy and victims of religious persecution.