Gunmen have tragically killed Reverend Father Tobias Okonkwo, a Catholic priest from Anambra State, in a brutal attack along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
Father Okonkwo, who served in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, was shot dead on Thursday evening by unidentified assailants. The attack took place between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm in the Ihiala area, according to a statement from the Diocesan Secretariat in Nnewi, dated December 27, 2024, and signed by the Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu.
Born on August 11, 1984, Father Okonkwo was ordained as a Catholic priest on July 11, 2015. At the time of his death, he was the manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala. He was also a pharmacist by training and hailed from Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area.
The Diocesan Secretariat expressed deep sorrow over the loss, asking the faithful to offer prayers and Holy Masses for the eternal repose of Father Okonkwo. The statement read: “Where sorrow increases, divine consolation increases all the more. With heavy hearts, but strengthened by faith, the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi announces the death of our beloved Rev. Fr. Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, who was shot and killed by assailants on the evening of December 26, 2024.”
The Diocese further requested prayers for his eternal joy and for God’s comfort to console the grieving family. “May Fr. Tobias rejoice in Paradise forever, Amen. May God console the bereaved,” the statement concluded. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
As of now, the police have yet to comment on the incident. This attack follows a disturbing trend of violence against clergy members in the region. Just three weeks ago, a retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, and his driver were reported missing under mysterious circumstances.
The Diocese and the larger community now mourn the loss of a devoted priest and healthcare worker, as they seek justice and answers for this tragic act.
