Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Augustine Akubeze is dead

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City and former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, is dead.

His death was announced in a statement on Thursday by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

In a statement shared on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the Secretariat called on Catholic faithful and people of goodwill to unite in prayer for the eternal repose of the late archbishop.

The statement read: “In total surrender to God’s will and in the sure hope of the Resurrection, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria invites all the faithful and people of goodwill to unite in prayer for the eternal repose of the soul of Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City and former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.”

It added: “May the Lord, in His infinite mercy, grant him everlasting rest. And may his soul, together with the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

The Secretariat did not disclose the cause of Archbishop Akubeze’s death or provide details of his funeral arrangements.