Nigeria, April 12 -- The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese in Ebonyi State, Peter Chukwu, is dead.

The Vicar General of the diocese, Donatus Chukwu, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Donatus, a Catholic priest, said Mr Chukwu died on Friday.

"With profound sorrow in our hearts, and trusting in the divine mercy of God, I write to notify you that our beloved bishop, Most Reverend Peter Nworie Chukwu, bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, has returned to the Father's house," he said.

The vicar general said the deceased bishop was 60 years old.

He asked Catholic faithful and all Christians to pray for the bishop and the diocese over the incident.

"Funeral arrangements will be announced later," he assured.

Reacting in a statement ...