LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Publisher of the Abuja-based online newspaper National Record, Comrade Iduh L. Onah, invites the public to join his family in honoring his father, the late Elder Abah Lazarus Onah, whose life of faith, kindness, and devotion will be celebrated during final burial rites this April.
After a brief illness with diabetes, the devout Catholic and active member of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) and Holy Family, left behind a family that deeply loved him in the early hours of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the age of 83.
To honor his legacy of kindness, unwavering faith, and devotion to family, Comrade Onah on behalf of the Onah family of Ogene in Amejo Ward, Edumoga District, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, has invited friends, colleagues, and the wider public to join the send forth and life celebration of their patriarch.
The final burial rites are scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and will conclude on Sunday, April 12, 2026, offering a series of ceremonies that honor both Christian and traditional customs.
On April 9, the ceremony kicks off with the Final Homage, led by the deceased’s sons-in-law who will perform the traditional Op’Ot’Okwu ritual, a rite that involves adorning the body with a shroud, from 12pm to 6pm. A wake‑keeping ceremony follows immediately at the family compound in Ogene from 9pm until dawn.
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The body will lie in state at the family compound throughout the morning of April 10, followed by a Requiem Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ogene, after which interment will take place at the family compound. The final rites of passage will continue overnight into April 11, featuring performances by cultural and Christian dance troupes, including the renowned Edumoga war dance, Oglinya, and Ibo performances.
The burial concludes with a Family Thanksgiving Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, providing the community a final opportunity to celebrate Elder Onah’s life and contributions.
Elder Onah, who lost his wife Mrs. Onyikwu Theresa Onah in 2012, devoted his life to raising a united family, leaving behind a legacy that his loved ones continue to honor.
He is survived by nine children, including Comrade Iduh Onah, Mrs. Janet Agbo, Mrs. Maria Ameh, Mrs. Jumbia Etuka, Mrs. Margarete Oji, Mrs. Mary Oheitonye, Mr. Sunday Itodo, Mr. Onah Jeremiah, and Dr. (Mrs.) Juliana Ejeikwu, multiple grandchildren, a great-grandson, and three sisters.
Through these rites, the Onah family and the entire community continues to honor a man whose faith, love, and leadership shaped generations and strengthened his community.
