Gunmen Rain Bullets On Mourners In Anambra, Four Dead, Fifteen Wounded

Gunmen suspected to be cult members opened fire on mourners during a burial ceremony in Anambra State, killing four people and injuring about fifteen others.

The incident occurred on Thursday night at Ezi Village, Ogidi, in Idemili North Local Government Area, during a wake-keep for an 18-year-old boy. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the gathering and began shooting indiscriminately, throwing the community into confusion.

A community source disclosed that suspicions were high the attack was linked to cult rivalry. According to the source, the deceased was believed to have ties to a cult group, and rival members may have used the burial as an opportunity to strike, knowing his associates would be in attendance.

Reports indicated that while four victims died on the spot, fifteen others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Command received a distress call in the late hours of September 11, 2025. He noted that officers from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, quickly mobilized to the scene, restored calm, and evacuated the injured. Ikenga added that 16 expended cartridges were recovered as evidence.

He further revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the shooting was connected to a clash between rival cult groups. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, strongly condemned the attack and assured residents that the Command is committed to eliminating cult-related violence and other forms of criminal activity in the state.

The Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the nearest security formation.