Calgary’s Nigerian community in shock over slaying of social worker

By ALANNA SMITH

Members of Calgary’s Nigerian community are in shock after a woman dedicated to helping the less fortunate was killed at a local care facility.

Deborah Onwu, a Nigerian immigrant who was a youth social worker employed by Wood’s Homes, was fatally stabbed Friday, allegedly at the hands of an 18-year-old she was caring for at an assisted living facility in the city’s southwest.

“We are shocked,” said Seun Ogunsola, president of the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary.

“You know these things happen, but you feel like Calgary is a safer community. You never think anything would happen in your community.”

While Ogunsola didn’t know Onwu, 47, personally, he said others reached out speaking about her kindness, gentle demeanour and dedication to her work.

“You don’t get into that kind of work if you don’t have the kindness and generosity to do that job,” he said, adding she paid the ultimate, and unfair, price doing what she loved.

Police arrived at a home in the 1800 block of 27th Avenue S.W. around 2:45 a.m. Friday where Onwu was given medical attention, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.

Two hours later, a man police have identified as Brandon Jacob Spencer Newman, was arrested in downtown Calgary. He’s since been charged with second-degree murder and is slated to appear in court on Friday.