A Nigerian father of three, simply identified as Herbert, has been found dead in his United Kingdom apartment.
The deceased was said to have left behind a wife and three young children, as his family appeals for financial support to cover funeral and repatriation costs.
Chronicle NG gathered from a post by an X user identified as ‘The Stress Manager’ that Herbert, who lived in Thornaby, died suddenly in his sleep last week in what relatives described as a shocking and heartbreaking incident.
The post read, “Herbert, a calm and devoted Nigerian husband and father of three young children, the youngest just eight years old, passed away suddenly in his sleep in Thornaby.
“Only a few days before his death, he was already dealing with the pain of losing his father in Nigeria. He could not travel for the burial, but he gave everything he had financially to ensure his father had a dignified farewell. That alone drained him mentally and financially.
“Then the unimaginable happened. Herbert passed away on the very day his father was laid to rest.”
The X user stated that the tragedy was especially upsetting for the family because Herbert’s children discovered his lifeless body.
He described Herbert as a devoted husband and father, leaving behind three children, the youngest of whom was eight years old.
He noted that since his death, the family has been left with the responsibility of caring for the children and seeking monies to return his remains to Nigeria for burial.
“To make it even more heartbreaking, his children were the ones who found him that morning because his wife was away at the time. No child should ever experience that.
“Now his wife is left alone to care for three young children while also facing the heavy financial burden of funeral and repatriation costs,” he added.
Benjamin Kuti, a former president of Nigerians in the UK, confirmed Herbert’s death in a post on his X page on Friday.
Kuti also urged the Nigerian community in the UK to help Herbert’s family.
Meanwhile, a fundraising drive has been created to help the family, with an appeal to Nigerians in the UK and the general public to contribute.
As at the time of filing this report, £2,633 had been raised from the £7,000 aim.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
