Tears flow as Catholic priests murdered by gunmen is laid to rest in Anambra

The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra State, was plunged into mourning as the remains of Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, a priest brutally murdered on December 26, were laid to rest at the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi.

The solemn requiem mass, held on Thursday, drew a large congregation of mourners, including clergy, dignitaries, and sympathizers, who gathered to bid farewell to the late priest.

His final resting place was at the cathedral grounds, marking the end of a life dedicated to service.

Fr. Okonkwo, who was also a trained pharmacist, was tragically killed shortly after leaving the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory Sciences at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, where he served as manager.

Delivering the homily, Monsignor Anichebe Ezeobata, Vicar-General of the Diocese, paid tribute to Fr. Okonkwo’s unwavering commitment to his priestly vocation and professional career.

“Though his journey was brief, his impact was immense,” Ezeobata said. “Ordained in July 2015, he served God with passion, balancing his pastoral duties with a remarkable career in pharmacy.”

Ezeobata highlighted that Fr. Okonkwo had completed his pharmacy internship in October 2024 and had only assumed the managerial role at the hospital’s School of Nursing two months before his untimely death.

The service was attended by notable figures, including Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and Professor Stella Chinyere Okunna, a former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Anambra State.

They joined clergy members and the faithful in honoring the memory of a man whose life touched many.