BREAKING: Bishop Emeritus Of Nsukka Diocese, Francis Emmanuel Okobo, Dies At 89

The Bishop Emeritus of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, is dead.

SaharaReporters gathered that Most Rev. Okobo died early Friday morning at the age of 89.

Although the Nsukka Diocese has yet to issue an official statement on his passing, several Reverend Fathers from the diocese confirmed to SaharaReporters that the Most Rev. Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo died this morning after a brief illness.

Okobo was the first Bishop of the Diocese of Nsukka, appointed on November 19, 1990, and ordained on January 6, 1991.

He served until his retirement on April 13, 2013, upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 80.

Born on November 4, 1936, he was ordained a Catholic priest on June 4, 1966, before rising to the episcopacy decades later.

Meanwhile, tributes have begun to pour in on social media for the late clergyman, who is remembered for his pioneering role in establishing and nurturing the Nsukka Diocese.