Armed Herdsmen Target Churches in Enugu: Anglican, Catholic Communities Worst Hit
Story: written by Myra November 11,2025
A recent report by the Anglican Church and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) reveals a disturbing wave of attacks by armed herdsmen in Enugu State, leaving scores of Christian worshippers dead and entire communities devastated.
According to the report, between May 2021 and June 2025, at least 14 Anglican and Catholic parishes in Eha-Amufu were raided, resulting in 117 deaths, hundreds of homes and farmlands destroyed, and thousands of residents forced to flee their villages.
Incidents include the May 2021 attack on Holy Anglican Church in Okpokwu, Mgbuji, which left 25 worshippers dead, and the January 2022 coordinated assault on seven parishes, including St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ogbete, where 40 people were massacred. Other attacks include St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ngele-Aguiyi (4 killed), St. Michael’s and All Angels’ Catholic Church, Okpurigwu (2 killed), and Our Saviour Anglican Church, Iyi-Asaa (9 killed), among others.
A senior Anglican priest in Eha-Amufu told researchers that following a January 2022 attack, he and volunteers had to bury eight decomposing bodies in a single day, with many victims reportedly abducted and killed in nearby forests. “Soldiers only came after the attack to help retrieve corpses, not during the killings,” he said.
Eyewitnesses also reported a helicopter, allegedly linked to the attackers, dropping suspicious objects believed to be weapons. Intersociety accused the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu of failing to respond to emergency calls during assaults, assisting only afterward. Local youths who attempted to rescue victims and gather evidence were allegedly detained, tortured, and falsely accused of involvement with the attackers.
Beyond church casualties, the report highlights hundreds of civilian deaths, including a December 2023 attack in Abor claiming over 20 lives. Markets such as Orie Aguamede and hundreds of homes were razed, farmland abandoned, and villages left deserted.
On November 7, 2025, a convoy of security agents reportedly repelled an attempted abduction on the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway, after herdsmen opened fire on commercial buses before fleeing the scene.
Intersociety called for an international investigation into the killings and alleged suppression of information by regional authorities. The report described the attacks as “systematic and faith-targeted,” noting that jihadist militants occupy at least 950 forest locations in the South-East, including 56 in Enugu State.
Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi lamented that political leaders in the region have downplayed the atrocities. The group also criticized international media, urging a full overhaul of BBC Africa to ensure unbiased reporting of the crisis.
Between 2021 and 2025, at least 300 people have been killed in repeated invasions in Eha-Amufu communities, despite a military presence, underscoring the need for a comprehensive security strategy to protect Christian communities in Nigeria’s South-East.
