Rev. Francis Alex Okafor died by drowning during a recent send-forth party organised in his honour at the Ibeshe Beach in Oriade Lo­cal Council Development Area of Lagos state.

According to an eyewitness account, 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 of the 30-year-old was found floating at the edge of the sea.

Percy Okuofo, president of Redemption Youth Vocation Ministry (RYVM), the group which organised the send-forth, spoke about the Reverend Father.

He said: “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 apos­tolic 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 Par­ish 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.”

Ada Igboanugo