Insecurity in Nigeria’s Eastern region continues to rise, with frequent killings and kidnappings by unknown gunmen causing widespread fear and unrest. On Thursday, December 26, 2024, Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo was tragically murdered by unidentified assailants. The incident occurred between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM along the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Ihiala, Anambra State, leaving the community in shock.
Reverend Father Raphael Ezeogu, Chancellor of the Nnewi Catholic Diocese, described the late priest as a dedicated servant of God and a professional pharmacist. Before his death, he was the manager of the Respective School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala, where he played a pivotal role in community health and education.
The gruesome killing has once again highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Anambra State and the Eastern region at large. Many residents and community leaders have expressed outrage and fear, calling on the state government and security agencies to take urgent steps to address the rising wave of violence.
The tragic loss of Reverend Father Okonkwo has not only deepened the community’s grief but also intensified demands for improved security measures in the region.
