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The Catholic communities of Cape Ann and the wider North Shore are in deep mourning following the sudden and unexpected passing of the Reverend Father Benjamin Okwy Madu. Father Ben, as he was affectionately known to his parishioners, committed suicide on the evening of Thursday, July 2, 2026. He was 54 years old and hailed from Abor Enugu state.

The timing of his passing has added a profound layer of grief to the local community. Father Ben was scheduled to return to his homeland of Nigeria later this month due to strict religious visa regulations that cut his pastoral mission in the United States short. Tragically, he was also just days away from celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, which would have marked a major milestone on July 7.

Only a week prior to his death, Father Ben published a poignant farewell message in the parish newsletter, expressing his deep sadness at being forced to leave the community he had come to love.

“Sincerely, it is not my wish to return home right now, but circumstances beyond my control have warranted that my time in the United States come to an end,” Father Ben wrote. “My heart is broken, yet my joy remains. I will miss the home I found away from home… I will deeply miss the seaside, where I often drive to after Mass to call my family and hear about their Sundays.”

Father Ben joined the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in April 2022, serving as an assistant priest at weekend liturgies across Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. He also served faithfully as a priest-chaplain at Salem Hospital, providing comfort to the sick and dying. Parishioners remembered him as a holy man who brought a constant, radiant smile and deeply moving, from-the-heart homilies to the pulpit every single week.

The Archdiocese of Boston and local parish leaders expressed absolute devastation over the loss.

“We extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to his family, brother priests, and friends in Nigeria, as well as the many people Fr. Benjamin Madu ministered to here in Cape Ann and at Salem Hospital,” said Archbishop Richard G. Henning in a statement. “We now entrust Fr. Madu to the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father and we ask the Lord to bring comfort and healing to all who mourn his passing.”

Father Jim Achadinha, pastor of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, shared the collective heartbreak of his congregation. “Our dear friend, Father Benjamin Okwy Madu, died suddenly… We are all heartbroken,” he stated, urging the community to unite in prayer for the late priest’s grieving family worldwide.

A special Holy Mass for the soul of Father Ben was celebrated on the morning of Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, where friends, neighbors, and grieving parishioners gathered to honor his life, legacy, and dedicated service.

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The Federal Government has suspended the enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy matters while it reviews and harmonises policies guiding the sector.

The decision was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, after a strategic meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

According to the minister, the move is intended to keep the current regulatory system in place until a single national policy and governance framework for the digital economy is completed.

He explained that the fast expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy has created areas where the responsibilities of different regulators now overlap.

He said better coordination is needed to provide clear rules, encourage investment, support innovation and improve confidence among consumers and businesses.

As part of the directive, the affected agencies have been instructed to suspend the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, codes, guidelines, frameworks, directives and administrative requirements relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy issues that are currently under review.

The minister stated that the existing regulatory arrangement would remain in force during the harmonisation process.

However, he clarified that regulations already covered by the legal responsibilities of the various agencies and consistent with the ministry’s policy direction would continue to be enforced.

To drive the review process, Tijani announced the creation of a Joint Technical Coordination Committee made up of representatives from the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

The committee will coordinate technical discussions, engage industry stakeholders, civil society organisations and academic institutions, and prepare recommendations for a unified national policy and governance framework.

The minister said the planned framework would clearly define the responsibilities of each regulatory agency, remove unnecessary overlaps, reduce uncertainty for businesses, strengthen investor confidence, encourage innovation and support Nigeria’s goal of becoming Africa’s leading digital economy and a top destination for digital investment.

He added that the review is not meant to reduce the powers of any regulatory agency but to improve coordination among them while developing policies that build digital trust, encourage innovation and strengthen the country’s digital economy.

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The Senate on Tuesday rejected calls for the Federal Government to take over South African-owned businesses such as MTN and DStv in response to the latest xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

Instead, lawmakers asked the Federal Government to step up diplomatic efforts and ensure Nigerians living in the country are protected.

The decision followed a debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who raised concerns over a fresh wave of attacks and intimidation against Nigerians and other African nationals after the June 30, 2026 deadline issued by some vigilante groups for foreigners to leave South Africa.

During the debate, the Senate condemned the attacks and urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written assurances from the South African government on the safety of Nigerians.

It also asked the government to push for the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved in the violence, looting, intimidation and unlawful actions against foreigners.

Lawmakers further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen emergency support for Nigerians.

They also asked the agencies to create a verified list of Nigerians who have been killed, injured, displaced, detained or lost businesses and property so they can seek compensation and legal redress.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to work with other African countries and the African Union to create an early warning system that would monitor and respond to xenophobic attacks across the continent.

In addition, the Senate directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to review the implementation of resolutions passed on May 5, 2026, and submit a report within four weeks on actions taken and outstanding issues.

During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that if South Africa refused to compensate Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed, Nigeria should consider using the profits of South African companies operating in the country to compensate the victims.

He said Nigerians should not continue to suffer losses while South African businesses keep operating and making profits in Nigeria.

Senator Wasiu Eshilokun also supported stronger action by suggesting the nationalisation of South African businesses operating in Nigeria.

However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, advised against taking immediate retaliatory measures. He said the Senate should allow its Committee on Foreign Affairs to complete its investigation before making any further decisions.

Barau acknowledged that the attacks were unacceptable and said innocent people should never be targeted. He also noted that the South African government should openly address the security situation if it was facing challenges in controlling the violence.

Following Oshiomhole’s insistence that the matter required urgent action, Barau directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to submit its report within two weeks so the Senate could decide on the next step.

Ekpenyong, while presenting the motion, said the attacks had affected not only undocumented migrants but also Nigerians and other foreign nationals with valid residence and work permits.

He said businesses owned by Nigerians had been attacked, looted and abandoned because of threats, while South African companies continued to operate freely in Nigeria.

The senator also recalled Nigeria’s role in supporting South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, noting that the country provided diplomatic, financial and material support and stood with the people of South Africa throughout the liberation movement.

He maintained that although South Africa has the right to enforce its immigration laws, such actions must be carried out by authorised government institutions and not by vigilante groups targeting foreigners.