Gunmen have attacked and set ablaze the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria.
The remote communities in the troubled area came under severe gunmen assault, resulting in the death of one person with several others injured.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned the death and the setting of the church building on fire, describing the development as criminal.
In a separate incident, four persons have been confirmed killed in another local community in Anambra State, in what appears a renewed cult-related attack, according to Police authorities in the State.
The incident reportedly occurred late Sunday at the popular Afor Nawfia Market along the Onitsha-Awka Road in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Local sources in the area told AIT.live that, the yet-to-be identified armed men stormed the scene, opened fire on unsuspecting members of the community, resulting in multiple fatalities while others fled for safety.
The Anambra State Police Command has made an official statement, Monday morning, confirming the bloody attack, calling the incident “cult-related” attack.
The Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, says the gunmen who operated in a black lexus jeep with yet to be disclosed registration number, opened fire indiscriminately at the market area, resulting in the fatal injury of four persons, after which the assailant fled the scene.
Ikenga said preliminary information obtained, has provided useful leads, and the command will ensure the perpetrators are tracked and arrested.
A statement from the Police Force notes that the Command has intensified intelligence-driven operations, deployed joint security team as well as strengthened surveillance across the area
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
