Dare Babalola
There was tension in Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State as yet-to-be-ascertained armed assailants attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church.
The attack left two worshippers dead, several vehicles and the cleric’s apartment razed, a report by Punch confirmed on Monday.
According to the report, 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 church premises and surrounding area were eerily deserted, with scattered debris and burnt-out properties dotting the landscape, a stark reminder of the violent attack.
Speaking to Punch some eyewitnesses confirmed the incident, noting that it 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.
“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 Anambra State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Monday, when reached for his comment.
SP Ikenga added that Anambra’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ramped up efforts, launching intelligence-driven operations, deploying a joint security team, and boosting surveillance in the area to ensure safety.
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 stated that police operatives are pursuing all leads, with a vow that no effort will be spared to track down the perpetrators and bring them 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.
The Lilu community, which is among the communities in Ihiala LGA, is a border town between Anambra and Imo states, and has been under the grip of gunmen for many months
