Tragedy struck the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi in Anambra State with the death of Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, who was shot by unidentified gunmen on December 26, 2024. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, near Ihiala. Fr. Okonkwo, a pharmacist by profession, was the manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala. He was also a native of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area.
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi announced the tragic news in an obituary letter signed by the Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu. The letter described Fr. Okonkwo’s death as a sorrowful loss but urged the faithful to pray for his eternal peace. Funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.
Efforts to contact the Diocesan Secretariat and the Anambra State Police Command for more information were unsuccessful, but police spokesperson for the Southeast zone, Josephine Ihunwo, confirmed the incident, stating that the police were actively investigating the case and working to ensure the security of the residents.
