Two Killed Including Priest’s Wife As Gunmen Attack Anglican Church In Anambra

Gunmen attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church in the Isiokwe area of Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing two people and setting several properties on fire, including vehicles and the priest’s residence.

It was gathered that the priest’s wife was one of those killed while parts of the church building were burnt during the attack on Sunday morning.

According to Punch, residents and eyewitnesses said that the incident brought church activities to an abrupt halt, leaving many people frightened.

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.

“This wicked act on a holy day in a Christian church and in a Christian community has not had a single mention from those who are fast to share happenings from elsewhere.”

The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack on Monday, saying the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had ordered increased intelligence operations, deployed a joint security team, and tightened surveillance across the area.

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.”

Ikenga added that officers are following all available leads and will use every resource necessary to bring the suspects to justice.

“The command urges residents to remain calm and cooperate with the Joint Security team by providing useful information that can assist ongoing investigations for justice to be served.

“The command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property across Ihiala and the entire state,” he added.

Lilu community, which lies on the border between Anambra and Imo states, has faced persistent security challenges for several months due to repeated activities of armed groups.

KanyiDaily had also reported how two people were killed and another injured after bandits carried out attacks in Eruku, a border community in Ekiti Local Government Area.