A 79-year-old community leader and a retired teacher, Pa Anthony Onuchukwu Chukwuedozie, has died while advocating against the ongoing gunmen and other criminal activities in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The first son of the late septuagenarian, Mr. Tony Chukwu, who disclosed this while speaking to journalists during his father’s burial ceremony, held at the family compound, Umudaraigwe-Mbosi, in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State, on Tuesday, 6th January 2026, said Pa Chukwuedozie passed away as a result of a high blood-related complication.

Recall that Ihiala Local Government Area which shares boundary with Imo State, for close to a decade, has been under deadly and unresolvable gunmen attacks that have claimed hundreds of innocent lives, including the wife of a serving Anglican Priest in the area.

Speaking soberly further, Mr. Chukwu appeal to the state and federal governments, particularly the Ihiala leaders of thought, to intensify action in curbing the disturbance in the area.

He said, “My father died as an advocate of peace. He died while crusading for peace in the area, which is why we gather here today to honour and celebrate the life of a man whose journey through this world was marked by service, discipline, hardwork and deep love.

“My late father was a soldier, a farmer and a teacher (three noble professions), which reveals the strength of his character and the depth of his commitment to humanity.

“As a soldier, he served with courage, loyalty and unwavering discipline. He understood duty, not as a burden, but as a sacred responsibility. He protected, he stood firm, and he gave his best to ensure the safety and well-being of family members, Mbosi community, Ihiala council area, Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole. His service to the fatherland shaped him into a man of resilience, integrity and honour.

“As a teacher, he shaped minds and nurtured futures. He shared knowledge generously, guided others with wisdom and believed deeply in the power of education to transform lives . Many who passed through his hands carry not only his lessons but also his values, discipline, respect, honesty and perseverance.

“In all these roles, Pa Anthony Onuchukwu remained highly disciplined, whose words matched his actions.”

In their separate tributes, his wife, Mrs Janet Chukwu, last born of the family, Rotn Callistus Chukwu, Mrs. Ifeoma Nsoanya and the lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, pray to God to grant the departed soul eternal rest.

The funeral also featured a mass service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mbosi. (Nigerian Tribune)