Tensions are escalating at Igbariam Farm Settlement in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State following a violent attack on the Christ Anglican Church and the Holy Trinity Catholic Church by local youths. The incident, which occurred on March 11, 2026, left the church compound damaged, property destroyed, and the clergyman, Venerable Obiora Igbokwe, narrowly escaping lynching. The attackers, numbering about 25 and armed with weapons, arrived on motorcycles and in a white car, claiming they were harvesting palm fruits on land they believe belongs to their community.
Venerable Igbokwe recounted that he was inside the church compound when he noticed the group approaching. Sensing danger, he rushed into the parsonage with his son and locked all doors. The youths began chanting war songs and attacking the building, breaking glass windows and removing burglary-proofing. Igbokwe hid under the bed to avoid being seen, while the attackers destroyed the water pump installation, damaging two tanks and causing the sumo to sink into the borehole when the rope snapped.
The destruction extended to the church’s ACM worship center and carport, which were completely demolished. The attackers also targeted the Christ Foundation School, a six-classroom block still under construction, pulling down the blocks to the ground. Igbokwe emphasized that 99.9% of the funds for the school came from external donors, highlighting the devastating impact on the church’s development efforts. Among the lost items were a 3kV generator, 30 pieces of 16mm rods, 15 goats, sheep, rams, mobile phones, chargers, aluminium frames, and clothes.
This attack is not isolated. The cleric revealed that the conflict began early last year when youths pulled down the church’s fence and assaulted workers at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, halting construction. He had previously appealed to the late President General of Igbariam, Dr. Chris Oforkansi, who formed an inquiry committee to investigate the land dispute. The committee included the Anglican Bishop of Niger West, Rt. Rev. Johnson Ekwe, and the Catholic Bishop of Aguleri, Most Rev. Dennis Isiuzor, along with church priests and chancellors. Both churches presented their Certificate of Occupancy, and the matter was resolved peacefully with the town union.
However, since the new Town Union government took office in January 2026, youths have repeatedly entered the church compound, claiming ancestral rights to the land. Despite repeated appeals, they continue to trespass, often riding motorcycles through the parsonage and cutting palm fruits. Igbokwe lamented that the church has been left vulnerable, with no effective protection or resolution in sight.
The incident underscores deepening land disputes and community tensions in Anambra State, where historical claims and modern development often collide. As the church seeks justice and security, the broader implications for religious institutions and community relations in the region remain a growing concern.
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