Gunmen kill Anglican priest in Adamawa
Gunmen have killed Emmanuel Ezeokwe, an Anglican priest, in an overnight attack on a vicarage in Song local government area of Adamawa state, authorities have said.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the Zinai community, has heightened concerns over recurring attacks on rural communities in the state.
The Adamawa state Police command confirmed the killing in a statement by its spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, saying the attack was reported at about 6:30 a.m. by a resident.
The police said the gunmen invaded the community around 12:48 a.m. and shot the cleric inside his residence.
Police officers who responded to the report found the victim at the scene and took him to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.
His body has been deposited in a morgue.
Nguroje said three empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the scene, while an investigation has been launched.
The Commissioner of Police, Kabir Hassan, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a detailed probe, while tactical teams have been deployed to track the attackers.
The Archbishop of Yola Diocese, Markus Ibrahim, described the killing as a major loss to the church and called for calm. The killing of Ezeokwe adds to a growing list of violent incidents in Adamawa state, particularly in rural communities near the Sambisa Forest axis.
In February 2026, at least 25 people were killed in coordinated attacks on villages in Madagali and Hong local government areas, with gunmen also burning homes and displacing residents.
Reports indicated that the attackers, some of whom arrived on motorcycles and in military-style clothing, struck multiple locations, including a military base, revealing the scale and coordination of the violence.
Human rights groups and local sources have also documented repeated assaults in the Madagali area since late 2025, with communities near the Cameroon border described as particularly vulnerable due to difficult terrain and delayed military response.