Seven Capuchin Friars killed in road accident in Nigeria

by Catholic Trends

May 6, 2025

in Africa

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Seven Capuchin Friars killed in road accident in Nigeria

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The Capuchin Order in Nigeria is mourning the devastating loss of seven of its friars who died in a tragic road accident on the evening of May 3, 2025. The friars, members of the St. Francis and St. Clare Custody of Nigeria, were en route from their Ridgeway Community in Enugu to Obudu, Cross River State, when the incident occurred.

In an official statement released on May 4 by Br. John-Kennedy Anyanwu, OFM Cap, the Capuchin Friars confirmed that thirteen brothers were traveling together at the time of the accident. While six sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment in Enugu, seven lost their lives in the crash.

The deceased friars are Br. Somadina Ibe-Ojuludu, OFM Cap, Br. Chinedu Nwachukwu, OFM Cap, Br. Marcel Ezenwafor, OFM Cap, Br. Gerald Nwogueze, OFM Cap, Br. Kingsley Nwosu, OFM Cap, Br. Wilfred Aleke, OFM Cap and Br. Chukwudi Obueze, OFM Cap.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

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Daily Reading

Friday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time

2nd book of Kings 25,1-12.

In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's... reign, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his whole army advanced against Jerusalem, encamped around it, and built siege walls on every side.
The siege of the city continued until the eleventh year of Zedekiah.
On the ninth day of the fourth month, when famine had gripped the city, and the people had no more bread,
the city walls were breached. Then the king and all the soldiers left the city by night through the gate between the two walls which was near the king's garden. Since the Chaldeans had the city surrounded, they went in the direction of the Arabah.
But the Chaldean army pursued the king and overtook him in the desert near Jericho, abandoned by his whole army.
The king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him.
He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon.
On the seventh day of the fifth month (this was in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, captain of the bodyguard, came to Jerusalem as the representative of the king of Babylon.
He burned the house of the LORD, the palace of the king, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every large building was destroyed by fire.
Then the Chaldean troops who were with the captain of the guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.
Then Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, led into exile the last of the people remaining in the city, and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the last of the artisans.
But some of the country's poor, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left behind as vinedressers and farmers.

Psalms 137(136),1-2.3.4-5.6.

By the rivers of Babylon
we sat mourning... and weeping
when we remembered Zion.
On the poplars of that land
we hung up our harps.

There our captors asked us
for the words of a song;
Our tormentors, for a joyful song:
"Sing for us a song of Zion!"

But how could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand wither.

May my tongue stick to my palate
if I do not remember you,
if I do not exalt Jerusalem
beyond all my delights.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8,1-4.

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great... crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I will do it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."

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