Amnesty International has strongly condemned the killing and abduction that occurred during an armed assault on St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Gunmen stormed the church in the early hours of Sunday, killing one man and abducting the Reverend’s wife, whose body was later discovered murdered and partially unclothed.
In a statement issued Monday, Amnesty International described the incident as a “gruesome attack” and urged authorities to conduct a transparent investigation. The organisation also called for accountability over security lapses, noting that the Agunechemba Security base, deployed by the Anambra State government, is located within the church premises.
“This shocking incident underscores the authorities’ persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have killed and abducted thousands of Nigerians over the past decade,” Amnesty said, adding that measures introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration “are clearly ineffective.”
The group warned that armed groups have taken control of several communities since 2023, further undermining public safety.
Police Response
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the attack in a separate statement, reporting that the church building was partly burnt and other properties destroyed.
Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu condemned the assault as “heinous” and a “threat to worshippers.” He assured residents that security forces were intensifying intelligence operations, deploying additional teams, and strengthening surveillance across the area.
“No community should be subjected to such brutality. The command will not allow criminals to instil fear or destabilise the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain,” Orutugu said.
Authorities expressed sympathy to the victims’ families and urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
