Benue Family Announces Burial Rites for Patriarch Elder Abah Lazarus Onah
The Onah family of Ogene in Amejo Ward, Edumoga District, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State has announced the burial arrangements for their patriarch, Elder Abah Lazarus Onah, who passed away on January 21, 2026, at the age of 83.
In a statement issued on Friday, April 3, by his son, Iduh L. Onah, publisher of Abuja-based online newspaper National Record, the family disclosed that the final burial rites will commence on Thursday, April 9, and conclude on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Elder Onah, a devout Catholic and member of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) and the Holy Family, died after a brief illness related to diabetes. He was widowed in 2012 following the death of his wife, Mrs. Onyikwu Theresa Onah.
According to the burial programme, activities will begin on April 9 with a traditional ceremony known as Op’Ot’Okwu, where the deceased is adorned with a shroud by his sons-in-law. The ceremony will take place between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by a wake-keeping at the family compound in Ogene from 9 p.m. till dawn.
On Friday, April 10, the body will lie in state at the family compound, ahead of a requiem mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Ogene. Interment will follow immediately at the family compound.
The rites of passage, incorporating both Christian and traditional elements, will continue through the night into Saturday, April 11, featuring cultural displays such as the Edumoga war dance, Oglinya, and Ibo.
The burial ceremonies will conclude on Sunday, April 12, with a family thanksgiving mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Ogene.
Elder Onah is survived by three sisters, nine children, numerous grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
The family has invited friends, associates, and the general public to join them in celebrating the life of the late patriarch, remembered for his devotion to family, strong faith, and kindness.
