From the Leader, Eastern Edition (Nigeria) March 27, 2016

Gunmen kill staff – Student dies in wedding ceremony

By Sandra Ejelonu

It was not the best of times for the Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri as the institution lost two gentlemen – a staff and a student in tragic circumstances recently. While the staff, Mr. Jude Chukwudi Opara if the Exams Department was shot dead on Friday March 11, along Amakohia Road, near Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri by unknown gunmen, the student, Mr. Raymond Ikechukwu Atuenyi, was said to have collapsed and died while singing at a wedding ceremony at Ozuitem, Bende Abia State. His remains were laid to rest on Thursday, March 17, 2016 in his home town, Otalo Nnewi, Anambra State. He was aged 26.

The Poly staff, Mr. Jude Opara, a native Amakohia-Ubi in Owerri-West LGA, Imo State, was murdered by gunmen, who allegedly trailed him from a bank where he was said to have cashed some money.

Mr. Opara in his early 50s was riding in a Keke-Napep when the hoodlums, operating with a Toyota car overtook the keke, blocked it and shot him several times before collecting the money. Another source described the gunmen as hired assassins. However, many of Jude’s friends and colleagues received the killing with utmost grief. “Jude was a quiet, unassuming gentleman who would not hurt a fly”. many of his colleagues said.

A Knight of St. Muluba. St. Paul’s Sub-Council Owerri, Mr. Jude Opara was also the Assistant Secretary of the Owerri Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men Organization (OACCMO). He was also a one-time President of CMO, Holy Cross Parish Ndegwu, Owerri Archdiocese.

The Registrar, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Mr Matthew Aligbe, the President OACCMO, Mr. Nwora Alfred Nonyelum and the Grand Knight, St Paul’s Sub-Council. Bro Eva Njemanze described the incident as a monumental loss not only to his family but to their organizations and called on the police to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.