Four Killed, 15 Injured in Suspected Cultist Attack at Burial Ceremony in Anambra
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Anambra – Four mourners were killed and about 15 others injured when gunmen, suspected to be cultists, opened fire during a burial ceremony in Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday night.
The attack occurred during a wake-keeping organised ahead of the internment of an 18-year-old boy scheduled for Friday. A source in the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Friends of the deceased gathered to honour him with a night wake and were enjoying drinks and some were smoking when some people arrived and opened fire on them.”
Preliminary reports suggest that the deceased may have been a member of a cult group, and rival cultists targeted the ceremony to catch attendees off guard.
The injured were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, stating: “The Command was alerted following a distress call in the late hours of 11th September 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA. They opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons, while 15 others sustained serious injuries.”
SP Ikenga added that police operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly responded, restored normalcy, and recovered 16 expended cartridges as exhibits. “The Command has since launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, as preliminary findings suggest that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups,” he said.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, strongly condemned the attack and reassured residents of the police’s commitment to eliminating cult-related violence and other criminal activities. He urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and report any suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police formation.
Akahi News gathered that the community is still in shock, as families mourn the victims while security agencies continue their investigation.
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