Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku and the entire Ika nation have been plunged into deep mourning following the sudden death of Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Chukwuma.
In an event that has left the congregation of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Boji-Boji Agbor, in a state of shock and solemn reflection, the beloved cleric breathed his last while performing his final earthly duty: presiding over the New Year Day Mass.
Witnesses recount that Father Chukwuma was standing at the pulpit, delivering the message of hope for the year 2026, when he collapsed in the presence of his parishioners.
Despite the immediate efforts of those present, it became clear that the veteran priest had finished his race.
For many of the faithful, his death is seen as a “saintly exit,” occurring while he was clad in his sacred vestments and standing at the altar of God—the very place he dedicated his life to for over three decades.
A noble son of Akumazi Umuocha in Ika North East Local Government Area, Father Chukwuma’s journey in the Lord’s vineyard began with his ordination in 1990 by the Emeritus Bishop, Most Rev. Anthony Gbuji.
Over the thirty-five years that followed, he rose to become a formidable leader within the Issele-Uku Diocese. Until his passing, he served with distinction as the Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and held the high office of the Regional Vicar of the Agbor Region, where he provided administrative and spiritual guidance to numerous parishes.
His death marks the end of an era for the Agbor Catholic community.
He was a man known for his discipline, his deep roots in the Ika culture, and his unwavering commitment to the growth of the Church in Delta State.
As the news of his transition spreads from the streets of Boji-Boji to his ancestral home in Akumazi, the Diocese prepares to bid farewell to a general in the faith who served until his very last breath.
Rest in peace, Rev. Fr. Stephen Chukwuma; your final sermon has been written in the hearts of your flock.