Two people — including the wife of the resident priest — were killed when armed assailants stormed St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, launching a violent attack that left the church compound in ruins.
Lilu, a border town between Anambra and Imo states, has endured months of terror from armed groups, with Sunday’s attack marking another grim episode in the region’s insecurity. Authorities have yet to give updates on the condition or whereabouts of the church priest.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, sent shockwaves through the community. Witnesses said the gunmen opened fire as worshippers prepared for service, killing the priest’s wife and another church member, injuring several others, and setting multiple buildings ablaze. The priest’s residence, several vehicles, and part of the main church building were completely razed.
When reporters visited the church on Monday, the premises were deserted, with burnt structures and scattered belongings reflecting the scale of destruction.
A resident, according to The PUNCH, described the incident as “a brutal attack on a holy day,” lamenting that such violence in a Christian community had drawn little public attention. “They invaded the church and started shooting… They murdered the wife of the church priest and one other person. They burnt down buildings, vehicles — everything,” the witness said.
Police authorities confirmed the assault, though initially stating that one person had been killed. The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu had ordered intensified intelligence operations and the deployment of a joint security team to the area.
Ikenga described the attack as “heinous and abominable,” adding that it was an affront to the community’s values and freedom of worship. He assured residents that the assailants would be tracked down and brought to justice.
“The command will not allow criminals to instil fear or destabilise the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain,” he said, urging locals to remain calm and assist security agencies with information.
