The Catholic Diocese of Warri, Nigeria, has announced the death of its Bishop Emeritus, Most Rev. John Okeoghene Afareha.
In an official notification issued from the office of the current Bishop, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido on Sunday, 18 January 2026, the Diocese declared: “It is with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection, that we announce the passing of our beloved father and Bishop Emeritus, Most Rev. John Okeoghene Afareha, who was called home to the Lord on Sunday, January 18, 2026.”
Bishop Afareha was remembered as a shepherd who gave decades of faithful service to God’s people. The statement recalls that “He was ordained as a Catholic priest on December 30, 1973 and was consecrated Bishop on May 14, 1997.” His years of ministry spanned both active episcopal leadership and a prayerful retirement marked by spiritual fatherhood.
Reflecting on his life and witness, the Diocese said, “Bishop Afareha lived his life in faith and obedience to the will of God, impacting the lives of many along the way. Even in retirement, he remained a man of prayer and a cherished father to us all.”
“We commend his soul to the infinite mercy of God. May the Lord grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him,” the statement added.
While funeral details have not yet been released, the faithful have been assured that “Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
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