Our Reporter | Crime
A quiet Sunday morning in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, descended into horror as armed assailants stormed St Andrew’s Anglican Church, killing two people, including the wife of the church priest, and setting fire to vehicles, buildings and the cleric’s residence.
According to PUNCH Online’s visit to the premises on Monday, the church stood desolate. Charred vehicles, debris and the remains of burnt structures littered the compound, reflecting the scale of devastation. Residents said the attackers struck in the early hours of Sunday, just as worshippers were preparing for service, leaving the community shaken and fearful.
One eyewitness described the scene as “a brutal attack on a holy day”, adding that the hoodlums arrived heavily armed and began shooting sporadically before torching parts of the church compound. “They murdered the priest’s wife and another person, injured several others, and burnt down the priest’s house, church vehicles and parts of the main building. It was horrifying,” the source said.
The assault has deepened anxiety in Lilu, a border community between Anambra and Imo states, which has endured repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months. Many residents told our correspondent that church activities were abruptly halted, with families fleeing the vicinity out of fear of further violence.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the attack as “heinous and abominable”, noting that it violated the community’s peace, sanctity of life and freedom of worship.
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had ordered intensified intelligence-led operations and deployed a joint security team to restore calm and track down the perpetrators. “We shall relentlessly hunt down those responsible and ensure they face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He urged residents to remain calm and support security agencies with credible information to aid investigations, assuring that the police remained committed to protecting lives and property in Ihiala and across the state.
The attack has once again highlighted the vulnerability of border communities in the South-East, where armed groups have continued to target both security installations and civilian institutions, including places of worship.