Two killed in Anambra church attack

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed an attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where two persons were reportedly killed.

A source had said the Sunday attack was perpetrated by heavily armed hoodlums who invaded the church as worshippers were getting ready for Sunday activity and started shooting, setting properties on the church premises, including buildings, ablaze.

The source said the wife of the church priest and one other person were killed while many others were injured.

Command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident on Monday, however noted that one person was killed.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned in the strongest terms the attack in the morning of December 7, 2025, carried out by armed criminals, which resulted in the death of one person.

“Some persons were inflicted with serious injuries, including the church building partially burnt, and other properties destroyed at a church premises in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

“The CP states that this heinous and abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, is not only an assault on the community, but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.

“The command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire Lilu community and assures the public that the Police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.

“The CP notes that no community should be subjected to such brutality, as the command will not allow criminals to instill fear or destabilize the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain.

“In view of the above, the command has already intensified intelligence-driven operations, deployed the Joint Security Team, and strengthened surveillance across the area.”