Awka Catholic Diocese probes priest over alleged assault on Anambra widow
The Catholic Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, said it had commenced an investigation into the alleged altercation that occurred between one of its priests, Rev. Fr. Jude Muokwe, and a 50-year-old widow identified as Mrs Ikeorah Maureen.
South-East PUNCH gathered that the incident, which took place on Wednesday, left the woman traumatised and in severe pain, thereby sparking chains of mixed reactions across the state.
Sources informed South-East PUNCH that the altercation started when the priest badged into an arena where Mrs Ikeorah and other staff members of the school run by the church, Angel Ordinary School, were holding a meeting and started flogging her with a cane and slapping her at the same time.
One of the sources said, “The widow and some other staff members of the school were meeting in one of the classrooms in the school, discussing their interest in salary increment, which they intended to relate to the school management thereafter.
“But the priest badged into the classroom with a cane and started beating her mercilessly, accusing her of being the convener of the meeting. This resulted in a kind of brawl between both parties.”
The reverend father is said to be the manager of the school, Angel Primary School, a mission school located in Ifitedunu, Dinukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the widow works as a teacher.
However, another source in the school claimed that it was the woman who first slapped the priest before the priest retaliated, which resulted in the fisticuffs.
A video currently trending on social media, however, showed the widow crying helplessly while recounting her ordeal. The video also showed some of the bodily injuries inflicted on the widow by the reverend father.
Meanwhile, the authority of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, in its reaction to the development, in a press statement, on Monday, said the church regretted the “unfortunate” incident, promising to investigate the circumstances surrounding it.
The statement was signed by the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, titled ‘Dear People of God, Response to a Viral Video Concerning Rev. Fr. Muokwe Jude, MSP by the Catholic Diocese of Awka.’
It reads in part, “In the light of the viral video trending on social media involving Fr. Muokwe Jude, an MSP priest, working at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School, Ifitedunu in Awka Diocese and a teacher, Mrs. Maureen Ikeorah.
“The Diocese regrets this unfortunate incident, which took place on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
“The Catholic Diocese of Awka upholds the integrity of character and respect of all and cannot condone any type of misconduct in any of our schools.
“We promise to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the extent of the violation of the ethical standard established by the diocese for all diocesan schools, and apply immediate disciplinary actions.”
