By Karen James
Ifitedunu, Anambra State – Reverend Father Jude Muokwe, a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in the Awka Diocese and manager of Angel’s Primary School in Ifitedunu, has been accused of assaulting Mrs. Ikeorah Maureen, a 50-year-old widow and primary school teacher, over a salary deduction dispute.
The incident reportedly occurred on February 14, 2025, during school hours. Mrs. Ikeorah, who hails from Umuanugwo village in Ifitedunu and has been teaching at Angel’s Primary School, allegedly confronted Fr. Muokwe regarding unauthorized deductions from teachers’ salaries. In response, Fr. Muokwe is said to have subjected her to physical assault in her classroom, in full view of her students and colleagues.
Eyewitnesses describe the scene as distressing, with the priest allegedly using a cane to flog Mrs. Ikeorah, leaving visible scars on her body. The assault reportedly drew the attention of the entire school community, leading to widespread outrage.
Mrs. Ikeorah has since called upon the people of Anambra State and Nigeria at large to intervene and ensure justice is served. She expressed deep trauma from the incident and emphasized the need for protection of teachers’ rights and dignity.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Awka Diocese regarding the allegations against Fr. Muokwe. Local authorities are urged to investigate the matter thoroughly to uphold justice and maintain trust in educational and religious institutions.
This incident has sparked discussions on social media platforms, with many condemning the alleged actions of the priest and calling for immediate action to address the situation.
Note: This report is based on allegations, and further investigations are required to ascertain the full details of the incident.
