Hoodlums Attack Anambra Church, Kill Two

Some yet-to-be-ascertained armed assailants have attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing two persons, burning vehicles and the cleric’s apartment.

Our correspondent, who visited the church premises on Monday, gathered that the wife of the priest of the church was among the two persons killed, while some parts of the church building were also burnt.

The premises and environs appeared deserted, while some properties were seen littering the place.

Some eyewitnesses and residents in the area confirmed to PUNCH Online that the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, disrupted church activities and sent panic in the area.

One of the sources said, “A brutal attack occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala LGA in the early hours of Sunday.

“The heavily armed hoodlums invaded the church as worshippers were getting ready for Sunday activity and started shooting, setting properties on the church premises, including buildings, ablaze.

“Unfortunately, they brutally murdered the wife of the church priest and one other person. They also injured many others, razed down the priest’s house to ashes, burnt down some church vehicles and other church properties, including a part of the main church building.

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.