Rev. Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo, Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia, has celebrated his survival after a 44-minute ordeal during an attack by gunmen in Anambra State.
Fr. Nwankwo marked the survival with a Thanksgiving Mass held on Wednesday at his Igweakpu village in Ndiowu, Orumba North Local Government Area. The Mass was officiated by His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia.
Speaking to journalists, the priest recounted that the incident occurred on July 9, 2025, at the Ekwulobia roundabout while he was travelling to Awka. He said gunmen opened fire from multiple directions as he waited at a traffic light, forcing him into a terrifying situation that lasted from 7:30 a.m. to 8:14 a.m.
According to him, one of the attackers ordered him out of the car and into the trunk, where he remained as gunfire continued around the area. He said the arrival of a Joint Intervention Force eventually dislodged the gunmen, bringing the attack to an end.
Fr. Nwankwo disclosed that his vehicle was hit multiple times during the incident and that he sustained an injury to his toe, which was later amputated at St. Patrick’s Mission Hospital, Ekwulobia.
He credited his survival to divine intervention and the timely response of security forces, saying the thanksgiving service was organised to express gratitude to God for sparing his life.
“I believe God intervened and saved me,” he said, adding that the experience had strengthened his faith and appreciation for life.