In a brutal assault in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, unidentified armed assailants attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The attack resulted in the death of two people, including the wife of the resident priest, and the destruction of the cleric’s apartment and several vehicles.
Eyewitnesses report that the heavily armed hoodlums invaded the premises just as worshippers were preparing for Sunday activities.
They opened fire and set properties ablaze, including parts of the main church building. One resident lamented, “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.”
See video below:
Read Also: Soldiers, Policemen Fight Publicly In Jos [VIDEO]
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned the act in the strongest terms.
Orutugu described the attack as a “heinous and abominable act” committed against innocent worshippers, calling it “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 extended its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and the Lilu community, assuring the public that the police “shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.”
No resource will be spared, the Command added, in ensuring that those responsible “face the full weight of the law.”
Lilu, a border community between Anambra and Imo States, has faced significant security challenges from gunmen for several months.
In response to this latest tragedy, CP Orutugu has ordered “intensified intelligence-driven operations” and deployed a joint security team to strengthen surveillance across the area. Residents are urged to remain calm and provide useful information to assist ongoing investigations.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
