Cultism Attack - 4 Killed And 15 Injured At Burial Ceremony Of 18-Year-Old In Anambra Following Gunmen Attack

 

A night of mourning in Anambra State turned bloody as gunmen suspected to be cultists stormed a burial wake, killing four people and leaving fifteen others severely injured. The tragic attack happened on Thursday evening at Ezi village in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, where friends and relatives had gathered to pay their last respects to an 18-year-old boy whose internment was scheduled for the following day.

Witnesses described the atmosphere as initially calm, with mourners engaging in conversations, music, and drinks to honour the young deceased. However, the solemn ceremony was disrupted by the sudden arrival of armed men who immediately opened fire, targeting attendees in what locals believe was a cult-related assault. The gunfire caused chaos, with people running in different directions as bullets tore through the crowd.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the young man being buried may have been associated with cult activities, which could have drawn rival groups to the venue. One community source, who pleaded anonymity, explained that many friends of the deceased were present, and suspicions were high that they belonged to a rival group. According to him, the attackers likely exploited the gathering as an opportunity to strike when their opponents were most vulnerable.

The night vigil, intended to be a peaceful gathering of remembrance, quickly turned into a scene of tragedy. By the time the attackers fled, four individuals lay dead while at least fifteen others had suffered gunshot wounds. Families of the victims rushed to hospitals, hoping for urgent medical intervention that might save the lives of the wounded.

The Anambra State Police Command has since confirmed the incident, with spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga issuing a detailed statement. He revealed that the police received a distress call late on September 11, alerting them to the invasion by suspected cultists. Officers from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilized to the scene. They restored calm and ensured that those injured were transported to medical facilities for immediate treatment.

Ikenga also disclosed that investigators recovered 16 expended cartridges from the venue, which are now being treated as key exhibits in the ongoing investigation. He added that preliminary findings indicate the attack was connected to clashes between rival cult groups operating in the region.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, strongly condemned the violence. He expressed sadness over the lives lost and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling cult-related killings and other violent crimes in the state. According to him, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the assailants behind the gruesome act.

Authorities are urging residents to remain calm and avoid panic, while also emphasizing the importance of community cooperation. Members of the public have been advised to be security conscious and to report any suspicious activity or movements to the nearest police formation. Ikenga stressed that actionable intelligence from community members would help the police clamp down on those who continue to terrorize communities through cult activities and gun violence.

The Ogidi incident highlights the growing concern over cult-related violence in Anambra and other parts of southeastern Nigeria. While cult clashes have often been linked to universities and youth groups, their influence has increasingly spilled into local communities, leading to violent confrontations at social gatherings and even traditional ceremonies.

Residents of Ogidi are now grappling with fear and grief, not only for the four who died in the gun attack but also for the broader implications it has on community safety. Many community members worry that reprisal attacks could follow, escalating tensions further. Families of the deceased are left devastated, their sorrow compounded by the violent nature of their loved ones’ deaths.

Security experts warn that unless cult groups are dismantled and their networks dismantled, such attacks may become recurrent, undermining social life and traditional gatherings across communities. They call for a combination of community vigilance, intelligence-driven policing, and strong legal action to break the cycle of violence.

For now, Ogidi mourns in silence, scarred by a night that was meant to honour the dead but instead added more victims to the list. The community awaits justice, while hospitals in the area continue to battle to save the lives of the injured. The hope remains that the ongoing investigation will bring the perpetrators to book and deter further bloodshed.