For discernment only.

Brother Innocent Chima Okore was a real person who lived in Nigeria and became a well-known figure within the Nigerian Catholic community. He was born in 1937 in the village of Umugunta, located in the Orlu area of Imo State, and he passed away on June 18, 2002.

Accounts from those who knew him or attended his retreats describe him as a mystic who led a life centered on prayer and penance. Witnesses have reported that he began exhibiting signs of the stigmata—visible wounds on his hands, feet, and side—around 1971. These reports often specify that the wounds would bleed during the Lenten season, particularly on Good Friday, and would reportedly heal or disappear following Easter Sunday.

While he was a popular figure and held retreats that drew many followers, his relationship with the formal Church hierarchy was sometimes complex. Some accounts note that he faced periods of scrutiny or “tough times” with Church authorities, though supporters emphasize that he remained a devout and obedient Catholic throughout his life. Today, he is remembered by many in the region as a man of deep spiritual conviction, and some continue to seek his intercession in prayer.