At least four people have been reported killed, while 14 others sustained varying degrees of injury after a group of gunmen invaded a burial ceremony and opened fire on mourners in Anambra State.
The yet-to-be-identified gunmen, suspected cultists, fled the scene after disrupting the burial, escaping before security operatives arrived.
Although the exact circumstances surrounding the massacre are yet to be known, the Anambra State Police Command disclosed that preliminary findings suggest the incident is linked to a clash between rival cult groups.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, operatives from the Ogidi Division responded to the attack, which occurred at Ezi Village, Ogidi, in Idemili North Local Government Area, and evacuated the 14 victims to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In a statement on Friday, Ikenga said the command has launched an investigation to identify, track down, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators, adding that 16 expended cartridges were recovered from the scene as evidence.
“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 and opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons while fifteen others sustained serious injuries, Police Operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilized to the scene, restored normalcy, and immediately evacuated the victims to hospitals for medical attention,” said the police spokesperson.
“In the course of the operation, 16 (sixteen) expended cartridges were recovered as exhibits,” Ikenga added.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has strongly condemned the incident and assures residents that the Command remains resolute in its commitment to rid the State of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.
He urged residents to remain calm, security-conscious, and to continue to provide useful information by reporting suspicious movements or persons to the nearest Police formation.
