Unidentified 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 setting the cleric’s apartment on fire.
It was gathered that the church’s priest’s wife was one of the two people slain, and that the church’s structure was partially destroyed by fire.
Some properties were seen scattered across the area, and the premises and surrounding area seemed empty.
The incident, which happened early on Sunday, disrupted church services and caused panic in the neighborhood, according to some eyewitnesses and locals.
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 worshipers 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.”
When contacted on Monday, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
Ikenga further stated that CP Ikioye Orutugu, the state commissioner of police, has reinforced surveillance throughout the region, deployed the joint security team, and stepped up intelligence-driven operations.
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 worshipers, 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 claims that police officers are pursuing every lead and that no resources would be spared in order to guarantee that the guilty are apprehended and subjected to the full force of the law.
“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.
Gunmen have been controlling the Lilu community, one of the towns in Ihiala LGA, for several months. The Lilu community is a border town between the states of Anambra and Imo.
