A heinous attack by armed criminals on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, resulted in the death of two individuals, including the wife of the presiding priest, and left several others injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as worshippers were preparing for the start of Sunday service.

Eyewitness accounts reported that heavily armed hoodlums invaded the church premises, initiating gunfire and setting properties ablaze. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the attackers burnt down the cleric’s apartment, damaged parts of the main church building, and destroyed church vehicles and other properties. This brutal act of violence has sent shockwaves through the community and the state.

The Anambra State Police Command swiftly condemned the incident. In a statement issued on Monday, December 8, 2025, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack. He conveyed the strong condemnation from the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ikioye Orutugu, who described the act as "heinous and abominable," committed against innocent worshippers. CP Orutugu emphasized that such an assault on the community is a grave affront to shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.

The Command extended its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and the entire Lilu community, assuring the public of its relentless pursuit of the perpetrators. CP Orutugu declared that no community should be subjected to such brutality and affirmed the Command's commitment to preventing criminals from instilling fear or destabilizing the peace they tirelessly work to maintain across Ihiala and the entire state.

In response to the attack, the Anambra State Police Command has intensified intelligence-driven operations, deployed a Joint Security Team, and strengthened surveillance across the affected area. SP Ikenga stated that operatives are diligently following every lead, pledging that no resource will be spared in ensuring the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible. Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the Joint Security Team by providing any useful information to assist ongoing investigations and ensure justice is served.

This church attack follows another unsettling incident a day earlier, where gunmen reportedly attacked the Afor Market junction in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government, resulting in multiple fatalities and further contributing to a sense of unease within Anambra State.