HOLLAND-OHIO: The body of a missing Nigerian doctor, Dr. Cletus Iwuagwu, has been discovered in a lake in the United States, bringing a tragic end to days of search efforts.
Dr. Iwuagwu, aged 71, was last seen on November 24, 2025, in Holland, Ohio. According to authorities, his body was found on Thursday, December 25, in Orchard Lake, near the Stone Oak Country Club.
The Lucas County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the discovery was made by the sheriff’s office, while the Springfield Fire Department later recovered the body from the water.
Family members had reported Dr. Iwuagwu missing on November 25, a day after he was last seen. Relatives said they last saw him around 8:00pm on November 24 at his office.
At the time of his disappearance, his daughter was receiving location updates on her phone indicating his movements, but law enforcement officials were unable to locate him at any of the places identified through the tracking data.
Dr. Iwuagwu was reportedly wearing a white shirt and blue trousers when he was last seen, according to information provided by his family.
Authorities said the cause and manner of death are still under investigation. However, the coroner’s office noted that there is currently no indication of foul play.
An autopsy was scheduled to be conducted on Friday, December 26, to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Dr. Iwuagwu was a respected medical professional affiliated with the University of Toledo Medical Center.
In a statement issued after he was declared missing, the university confirmed that he was a professor in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Medicine, and also served as a geriatric medicine physician with UToledo Health.
He is a well-respected physician, and we share the community’s hope for his safe return as law enforcement continues to investigate his missing-person case, a spokesperson for the University of Toledo Medical Center had said before his body was found.
The discovery of his body on Christmas Day has drawn widespread reactions, with colleagues, community members and Nigerians at home and abroad expressing shock and sadness over the loss.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged the public to await the outcome of the autopsy for further clarity on the incident
