Luke Adeleke, an easy going and likeable Catholic priest with the Abeokuta Diocese has been murdered by unknown gunmen.

The sad incident, occurred on Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24, 2021. This was while on his way home after celebrating a Holy Mass at an outstation.

Shedding more light on the tragedy, the Catholic Secretariat had this to say: “While the Church in Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas, the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta has been thrown into a mournful state over the killing of one of its Priests, Rev. Fr. Luke Adeleke by some unknown gunmen.

“The National Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, gathered from Abeokuta Diocese that Fr. Luke was murdered by unknown gunmen at about 7:00pm on the eve of Christmas, Friday, 24 December, 2021.

“The sad incident occurred while the young priest was returning home after celebrating Holy Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ogunmakin, an outstation of his parish. The attackers fired at his vehicle and the bullets hit his legs, making him lose a lot of blood and die in his car. His body was later deposited at the mortuary in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta.

“Until his death, Fr. Adeleke was the Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ijemo Fadipe in the Odeda Local Government of Ogun State. Rev. Fr. Luke Adeleke was born on 20th February, 1983 (38 years) and ordained a Priest on 21st of January, 2017 for the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta.

“What a sad news.

“Please pray for the soul of Fr. Luke Adeleke. May God receive His soul.”

Hitherto an Associate Priest at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Akute, a Farewell Mass will be held for him tomorrow at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. His Funeral Mass will follow on Friday, December 31, at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, Abeokuta, and then internment at the Catholic Bishop’s Court, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Humility personified, all those that encountered him, especially while serving under the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Oriyomi, at St. Alphonsus, Akute, have not only been weeping and wailing over his untimely demise, they have also been recounting and recollecting his good deeds. As well as his listening ears and friendly disposition.