Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest in Anambra

Efforts to reach the Diocesan Secretariat and the Chancellor were unsuccessful, as calls to their telephone lines went unanswered. Similarly, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls and messages regarding the incident.

Nnewi, Nigeria – A Catholic priest in the Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra State, Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, December 26, 2024, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway near Ihiala at about 7 pm.

A statement from the Diocesan Secretariat, signed by the Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu, confirmed the death of the 40-year-old priest. The statement, titled “Obituary” and accompanied by the deceased’s photograph, read:

“Where sorrow increases, divine consolation increases all the more. The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi announces, with sorrow but with stronger faith, that our dear Rev. Fr. Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo died yesterday, 26th December 2024. He was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Ihiala, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway around 7 pm and 8 pm.

“Till yesterday, Fr. Tobias, a pharmacist and native of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area, was manager of the respective Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala.

“We solicit your prayers and Holy Masses for his eternal joy. May Fr. Tobias rejoice in Paradise forever, Amen. May God console the bereaved. Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”

Efforts to reach the Diocesan Secretariat and the Chancellor were unsuccessful, as calls to their telephone lines went unanswered. Similarly, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls and messages regarding the incident.

This incident has intensified concerns over the safety of clergy in Anambra, especially as it comes just weeks after the disappearance of retired Anglican Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, along with his driver.

Archbishop Okpala and his driver went missing on Friday, December 7, 2024, during a trip to Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area. Despite efforts by the church and police, their whereabouts remain unknown, adding to anxiety among the faithful in the state.

The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi has called for prayers and support during this difficult time.