The remains of the Delta State correspondent of The PUNCH, Matthew Ochei, were laid to rest in Ukwu-Uzu, Aniocha Local Government Area of the state, on Saturday.
PUNCH Online reports that Ochei passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the age of 43 after a brief illness.
Ochei was buried after a funeral service at Bethel Anglican Church, Ukwu-Uzu.
At the event, friends, colleagues, and family members paid glowing tributes to him.
The Vicar in charge of Bethel Anglican Church, Ukwu-Uzu, Rev. Canon Emmanuel Ottah, described the deceased as “a committed church worker who never missed his obligations to the house of God.”
He affirmed that “church records showed the deceased was a very active worker who always participated in evangelism and development activities.
“As a member of the Church Committee, Matthew Ochei’s sudden departure has left a big vacuum in the church.”
Quoting from the Scriptures, particularly 1 Thessalonians 4:13, the Anglican priest stated that “only God Almighty has answers to the reasons why He called Matthew Ochei home at his tender age.”
In a tribute delivered at the funeral service on his behalf, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of PUNCH Newspapers, Joseph Adeyeye, described Ochei’s passing as “a big blow” to The PUNCH family.
“Everyone in The PUNCH Place was deeply pained by the sudden passing of our dear brother, Mr Matthew Ochei. It was a big blow,” he stated.
The Managing Director, represented by a three-man delegation comprising Mr Dele Ogunyemi, Mr Ikenna Obianeri, and Mr Felix Sylvester Ijenebe, noted that Ochei was known in The PUNCH Place as “a highly valued, committed, and very loyal media worker.”
He said, “Mr Ochei was renowned for his dedication to duty. Much more so, he was a good team player. Also, he had a very friendly personality. His presence was always magnetic. We will sorely miss him.”
In his tribute, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council, Mr Churchill Oyowe, commiserated with the immediate family of the late Ochei and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
“I sincerely appreciate the journalism community in Delta State and the Delta State Government for their overwhelming support before, during, and after his burial, a solidarity that truly honoured his memory and service,” Oyowe stated.
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