Rev. Emmanuel Ezeokwe, Vicar of Anglican Church, Zinai, in Song Local Government Area, was gunned down inside the vicarage in the early hours of Wednesday, April 21, 2026.
Gunmen have stormed a church residence in Adamawa State under the cover of darkness and brutally murdered an Anglican priest, triggering a police investigation and statewide concern over rising insecurity.
Rev. Emmanuel Ezeokwe, Vicar of Anglican Church, Zinai, in Song Local Government Area, was gunned down inside the vicarage in the early hours of Wednesday, April 21, 2026.
Archbishop Markus Amfani Ibrahim confirmed the chilling incident, describing it as a devastating loss to the church and calling for prayers for the bereaved family, the Zinai congregation, and the Anglican Diocese of Yola.
The violence has since drawn the attention of security agencies, with the Adamawa State Police Command announcing a full-scale investigation into the killing.
In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, revealed that the attack was reported at about 6:30 a.m. by a resident, Amos Sunday, who said the gunmen struck around 12:48 a.m., invading the village and shooting the cleric.
Police operatives who responded to the distress call reportedly found the priest’s lifeless body at the scene and rushed him to a hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead. His remains have since been deposited in the morgue for autopsy.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, led to the recovery of three empty AK-47 shells at the crime scene.
In response, Commissioner of Police Kabir Umar Hassan has directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to carry out a discreet but thorough probe. Tactical teams have also been deployed to hunt down the assailants.
The police urged residents to remain calm and assist with credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation, assuring that efforts are underway to bring those responsible to justice.
The killing, carried out within what should have been the safety of a vicarage, has heightened fears among residents and religious communities, once again spotlighting the persistent threat posed by armed attackers operating across parts of the state.
