The Catholic community in Lagos is yet to come to terms with
the tragic death of Rev. Francis Alex Okafor. The man
drowned during a send-forth party organised in his honour at
the Ibeshe Beach in Oriade Local Council Development Area
of the state.
Eyewitness account said, while Rev. Okafor and some of his
guests were swimming, a strong current came and carried
him, together with some of the people. Divers who were
immediately mobilised were able to rescue three of them,
while Rev Okafor could not be found. Two days after, his
lifeless body was found floating at the edge of the sea.
Rev. Okafor who was in his 30s, was ordained Deacon on
July 4, 2015, and was subsequently posted to St. Stephen’s
Catholic Church, Agboju, Lagos for the mandatory six weeks
apostolic work.
When Saturday Sun visited the parish within the week, the
whole place wore sombre look. There were no activities in the
premises. The few people around were in groups, obviously
discussing the incident.
Describing the incident as a rude shock, Mr. Percy Okuofo,
president of Redemption Youth Vocation Ministry (RYVM), the
group which organised the ill-fated send-forth, told Saturday
Sun that the late Reverend was an excellent example to the
youths.
According to him, “By Catholic rules, before one could become
a priest, he must have undergone about nine years of
intensive and rigorous training, which also involves an apos
tolic work in a Catholic church. This would enable him to get
acquainted with all it takes to celebrate a mass and acquire
more experience in the various aspects of church
administration. For the late Rev he has already been ordained
a deacon, and waiting to be ordained a priest next year.
“Having completed the six weeks apostolic work at St.
Stephen’s Catholic Church Agboju, the late Okafor was full of
joy and was warming up to meet his family in Zaria. The Par
ish Priest Rev. Father Michael Okoh, the parishioners and the
members of the church planned a colourful send-forth for him
on Sunday, August 16, after which he would leave for further
engagements.”
Ahead of the proposed sent-forth party, the youths of the
church under the umbrella of RSYVM, decided to organise the
beach party for him.
Battling to control his tears, Okuofo said: “while some of the
youths and the late Reverend were swimming, three of them,
including the clergy were swept away by a strong current and
vanished in the water. Onlookers and other swimmers were
surprised at what had happened and immediately went on a
rescue mission.
“Luckily, some divers around were able to save two of the
youths, a boy and a girl, while Okafor’s body could not be
found. We kept monitoring the area till his bloated body
surfaced.”
During the Service of Songs organised by the church, Priest
in-charge, Rev Fr Michael Okoh described the late Okafor as
an obedient servant of God and a hardworking gentleman who
did his best to lift the church within the short period he came.
The late Okafor who hailed from Anambra State, was trained
by his single mother. He was to be ordained priest in July
2016, after about nine years training. It was also learnt that
he was the only son of his parents.
[Saturday Sun]