Four Killed as Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony in Anambra

Tragedy struck in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Thursday night when gunmen suspected to be members of a rival cult group attacked a burial ceremony, leaving at least four people dead and about 15 others injured.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed Ezi Village on motorcycles while family members were performing the burial rites and opened fire on mourners, sending many scampering for safety.

“They came in on motorcycles and suddenly opened fire at the mourners, targeting specific individuals. People were running everywhere, and after carrying out their mission, they quickly fled,” a resident told reporters under anonymity.

Spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday. He said operatives from the Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly responded, restored calm, and evacuated victims to nearby hospitals.

“Following a distress call in the late hours of September 11, 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, Ogidi, and opened fire on attendees, four persons were confirmed dead while 15 others sustained serious injuries. Sixteen expended cartridges were recovered at the scene,” Ikenga said.

He added that preliminary investigations point to a clash between rival cult groups, while assuring that a discreet probe has been launched to track down the perpetrators.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the attack and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ending cult-related violence in the state. He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and to report suspicious movements to the nearest police formation.

This latest attack comes months after a similar incident in Ihiala LGA in January, when seven people, including five police officers, were killed during preparations for a burial ceremony. Following that incident, Governor Chukwuma Soludo placed a N10 million bounty on the killers.

The Ogidi attack has once again raised concerns over the rising trend of cult-related violence in Anambra communities, particularly at social gatherings such as funerals.