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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Gunmen suspected to be cultists have unleashed violence in an Anambra community, killing four mourners and injuring about 15 others during a burial ceremony at Ezi village, Ogidi community, Idemili North LGA. The incident happened on Thursday night during the wake for the deceased. Sources said the burial was that of a boy,18, who was to be buried yesterday.
According to the source, “friends of the deceased gathered to honour him with a night wake, and as they were on a drinking and smoking spree, some people arrived and opened fire on them.
“The community is suspecting that the deceased was a cultist, and rival members came for the attack because they knew his cult members would be at the ceremony, and that they could only be caught off guard at such an event.”
It was gathered that while four people were killed instantly, about 15 others who sustained bullet injuries had been taken to the hospital for medication.
Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement yesterday, said 16 expended cartridges were also recovered at the scene.
According to Ikenga, the Command was alerted following a distress call in the late hours of 11th September 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA and opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons while 15 others sustained serious injuries,
“Police Operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilised to the scene, restored normalcy, and immediately evacuated the victims to hospitals for medical attention,” he stated.
He said the Command had since launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, as preliminary findings suggested that the incident was connected to a clash between rival cult groups.
