The sleepy town of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State was jolted into mourning on Thursday night, September 11, 2025, when gunmen suspected to be cultists stormed a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, unleashing a rain of bullets on unsuspecting mourners.
By the time the gunfire subsided, four people lay dead and no fewer than fifteen others were writhing in pain from gunshot wounds. The assailants vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of blood, overturned chairs, and haunting silence.
“It was like a war zone”
A survivor who preferred anonymity recounted the horror: “We were just eating and listening to the music when suddenly we heard gunshots. People ran in every direction. I saw two of my friends fall to the ground. It was like a war zone. Up till now, I can’t believe we went for a burial and returned with more burials to plan.”
Elderly women were seen the next morning still sweeping broken bottles and bloodstains from the sandy ground where the ceremony had been held. One of them, Mama Ifeoma, shook her head repeatedly as she spoke: “This is not our tradition. A burial is supposed to unite families, not destroy them. The younger generation must fear God. What happened here is an abomination.”
Police swift response
Police authorities say they received a distress call almost immediately after the shooting began. Operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilized to the scene, restored calm, and evacuated the wounded to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Sixteen expended cartridges were recovered from the scene as exhibits. Preliminary findings suggest the attack was the latest fallout of a bitter rivalry between cult groups that have been struggling for dominance in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, MNIPS, PhD, strongly condemned the attack.
“We will not allow cult activities and other violent crimes to disrupt the peace of our communities. The perpetrators of this heinous act will be identified, traced, and brought to justice,” he vowed.
Community fear and anger
For many residents of Ogidi, however, Thursday’s violence has deepened fears about the rising trend of cult-related clashes in Anambra. Just last year, a similar confrontation between rival groups in Obosi left several youths dead. Earlier this year, Onitsha and Awka also recorded incidents linked to cult gangs.
A local youth leader, Chukwudi Nnabuife, voiced his frustration: “Every time we hear the police say they are investigating, but the killings continue. These boys live among us. Everyone knows them. Until real examples are made, young people will keep joining these groups, thinking it is the only way to gain power and respect.”
Parents are also anxious. A mother of two, Mrs. Nwakego, told Fresh Facts that she now fears allowing her teenage son to attend social events in town. “You never know when these people will strike. Today it is Ogidi, tomorrow it could be Nkpor or Awka. We are living in fear.”
A wider menace
Cultism, once confined to universities, has in recent years spilled over into Anambra’s towns and villages, creating parallel power structures and fueling cycles of violence. Security experts note that the proliferation of firearms and the lure of quick money through political thuggery have only worsened the trend.
The police command insists that it is tackling the menace head-on. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement, appealed for calm and urged the public to remain vigilant:
“We encourage residents to report suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police formation. Together, we can rid our communities of this violence.”
Looking ahead
As the victims of Thursday’s attack battle for survival in hospital wards, families of the dead are preparing for fresh burials — a bitter irony that has not been lost on the Ogidi community.
For now, the town is united in grief and uncertainty, waiting to see if this will finally be the moment when authorities take decisive steps to end the cycle of cult violence that has claimed too many young lives in Anambra State.
