Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria

Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria

By Fly Cable News

A Catholic priest, Tobias Okonkwo, was shot and killed on Thursday in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, south-east Nigeria.

The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Raphael Ezeogu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.

“Father Okonkwo was shot dead by unidentified assailants along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway between 7 pm and 8 pm,” Mr. Ezeogu said.

The priest, who was also a pharmacist, hailed from Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area and had served as the manager of various schools of nursing, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later, the chancellor added, while praying for the repose of the priest’s soul.

Police Reaction
Anambra State police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said he was unaware of the incident when contacted on Friday.

Rising Insecurity in South-East Nigeria
Anambra State, like other parts of the south-east, has experienced a surge in violent attacks, often targeting security forces, government officials, and infrastructure.

The Nigerian government has attributed many of these attacks to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for an independent state of Biafra. IPOB, however, denies involvement in the violence.