The Claretian missionary, serving in the southern Nigerian Archdiocese of Owerri and lecturing at the Imo Polytechnic School in Enwerem, was ambushed and murdered while traveling on the Nekede Avu Road.
“At the moment,” the Claretians’ General House explained, “we have no further information regarding the circumstances of our brother’s death.”
Turning to motivations for the murder, the local police reportedly are considering that, perhaps at the school, there were some sort of internal dispute. Others speculate that it was not a random killing, but rather an assassination because the priest was said to be no-nonsense and to always speak the truth.
Founded by now Saint Anthony Claret in 1849, the Claretians are a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, that while involved in diverse ministries often depending on a given area’s needs, give special attention to the needs of the poor and have a special devotion to Mary.
