AFRICA/NIGERIA - A priest and pharmacist shot dead in the street

Nnewi (Agenzia Fides) - The Christmas season for the Catholic community in the Nigerian Diocese of Nnewi is marked by the murder of Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, a Catholic priest and pharmacist, who was shot dead in the street on the evening of December 26, during the liturgical feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. The diocese has only released an official statement on what happened in the last few hours.

According to the statement issued by the diocese, Father Tobias “was approached by a group of unidentified persons while driving on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, in Ihiala” (in southeastern Nigeria, ed.). The attack, which took place “between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.,” resulted in his death after being shot several times.

The murdered priest, the diocese specifies, was also a pharmacist, a professional in the service of public health. He ran various health facilities, such as the nursing and midwifery schools and the medical laboratory of the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala.

In its statement, the diocese asks the faithful to join in “prayers and masses” for the soul of the priest while the police authorities continue to investigate the case to determine the reasons for the murder.

The murder of Father Tobias is added to those recorded in Fides' annual report on missionaries and pastoral workers killed in 2024.
With his death, the total number of pastoral workers and missionaries killed in the last 365 days rises to 14. Therefore, the total number of priests killed in 2024 increases by one unit, from 8 to 9.
On the African continent, a total of 7 missionaries were killed in 2024: 2 in Burkina Faso, 1 in Cameroon, 1 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2 in South Africa and 1 in Nigeria. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 31/12/2024)

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