A group of armed men launched a brutal attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in two fatalities, including the wife of the church priest.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as worshippers were preparing for the start of Sunday service. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, also burning vehicles and partially setting fire to the church building, including the cleric’s apartment.
An eyewitness detailed the attack to Punch:
“A brutal attack occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala LGA in the early hours of Sunday… Unfortunately, they brutally murd£red 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.”
Police Condemn “Heinous Act”
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the attack on Monday, December 8, with the spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, relaying a statement from the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
The CP strongly condemned the actions:
“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 Police Command extended sympathies to the families and assured the public that the Joint Security Team has been deployed and intelligence-driven operations intensified to relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators, promising that “no resource will be spared” in the investigation.
