• Armed attackers strike St. Andrews Anglican Church in Lilu, Anambra
• Priest’s wife, one other killed; vehicles, parsonage burnt
• Police launch intelligence-led hunt for perpetrators
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Two people, including the wife of the church priest, were killed on Sunday when armed hoodlums attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The assailants stormed the church in the early hours of the morning as worshippers prepared for service, opening fire and setting multiple structures ablaze. The priest’s residence, several vehicles, and part of the main church building were burnt in the assault, leaving the premises deserted when our correspondent visited on Monday.
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Eyewitnesses said the attackers shot sporadically before torching buildings, causing panic and disrupting all church activities in the area. Several people were also injured during the invasion.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga said Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu had condemned the attack as “heinous” and “abominable,” describing it as an assault on both the community and the sanctity of worship.
Ikenga said the command had deployed a joint security team, intensified intelligence-led operations, and strengthened surveillance across the Lilu axis, which has endured frequent gunmen activities due to its border location between Anambra and Imo states.
He assured that detectives were following all leads and vowed that the perpetrators would be tracked down and prosecuted.
Residents were urged to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid the ongoing investigation.
The police reiterated their commitment to restoring peace and protecting lives and property across Ihiala and the wider Anambra State.
