By Izunna Okafor, Awka
What could be best described as tension gripped Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday night following a bloody cult-related attack at a burial ceremony that left four people dead and no fewer than 15 others severely injured.
According to reports and videos currently trending on social media, the tragic incident occurred at Ezi Village, Ogidi, where suspected cultists stormed the funeral gathering and opened fire indiscriminately on mourners. The viral video clips show some of the victims battling for their lives at an undisclosed hospital where they were rushed for treatment.
Confirming the development in a press statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Command received a distress call around the late hours of September 11, 2025, prompting a swift deployment of police operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer.
Ikenga said the operatives quickly mobilized to the scene, restored calm, and evacuated the wounded victims to hospitals for urgent medical attention. He added that 16 expended cartridges were recovered from the crime scene, serving as exhibits in the ongoing investigation.
“Preliminary findings suggest that the incident is linked to a clash between rival cult groups,” the PPRO disclosed, stressing that the Command has already launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD, strongly condemned the attack and reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to ridding the state of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.
The CP further charged officers to intensify efforts in curbing the menace of cultism and directed that proactive measures, including surveillance and intelligence-led operations, be sustained across the state.
He urged Ndi Anambra to remain calm and security-conscious, while also encouraging the public to continue providing useful information and reporting suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police formation.
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