Unidentified gunmen have launched a deadly attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing two people and razing parts of the church premises, including the cleric’s residence and several vehicles.
A visit by our correspondent to the scene on Monday revealed that the wife of the church priest was among those killed in the early Sunday morning assault. Parts of the church building were also damaged by fire, while the premises and its surroundings were largely deserted, with scattered personal belongings visible across the area.
Eyewitnesses and local residents confirmed that the incident disrupted planned church activities and threw the community into panic.
One of the residents 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 of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Monday, stating that security operations in the area had been intensified on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
Ikenga said, “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.”
He further assured residents that investigators are pursuing all available leads to ensure the suspects are arrested and prosecuted.
“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,” Ikenga added.
Lilu community, a border town between Anambra and Imo states, has experienced repeated attacks by gunmen in recent months, leaving residents living in sustained fear.
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