A suspected cult member was shot dead inside a Pentecostal church in Aba, Abia State, after gunmen believed to be members of a rival cult group pursued him into the worship centre during a church service.
The incident, which occurred around the Ogbor Hill area of the commercial city, caused panic among worshippers and residents and has renewed concerns over persistent cult-related violence in Aba.
Residents said the victim, whose identity had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report, was attending to personal activities in the area before he was confronted by the assailants. Witnesses said the attackers arrived in a commercial tricycle and trailed the young man through parts of the neighbourhood before he attempted to escape.
According to accounts gathered from the area, the victim noticed the approaching men and immediately fled. The attackers reportedly chased him through adjoining streets, forcing him to seek refuge inside a nearby church located off the major road in the Ogbor Hill axis.
Church members were said to have been in the middle of a service when the armed men stormed the premises.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen entered the church and ordered worshippers to lie face down on the floor while they searched for their target. Congregants reportedly complied out of fear as the attackers moved around the auditorium looking for the fleeing man.
The suspected victim was later found hiding close to the altar among other worshippers who had also taken cover during the confusion.
Sources familiar with the incident said the gunmen dragged the man away from the altar area before shooting him multiple times in the head at close range. The attackers reportedly used a short double-barrel gun and remained at the scene briefly to ensure the victim was dead before leaving.
Witnesses said the gunmen escaped in the same tricycle they arrived in.
The attack disrupted the church service and left worshippers in shock. Some residents in the neighbourhood reportedly fled indoors after hearing gunshots, while others gathered outside the church premises shortly after the assailants fled.
Police officers were later alerted by church leaders and arrived at the scene after the shooting. The victim’s body was subsequently evacuated and deposited at a morgue.
Security authorities had yet to officially identify the deceased or confirm the circumstances surrounding the killing at the time this report was compiled. However, local sources alleged that the attack was linked to ongoing rivalry between cult groups operating in Aba.
The killing inside the church came amid another reported cult-related incident in Aba North Local Government Area.
Residents said another attack occurred around the Old Express area near Elder Justice School, further heightening fears over increasing insecurity linked to cult activities in parts of the city.
In recent months, residents of Aba have repeatedly raised concerns over targeted killings, street clashes and reprisals allegedly involving rival cult groups. Some community members say the violence has spread beyond known hotspots and now poses a growing threat to public safety.
The latest incident has also raised questions about the boldness of armed groups operating within the city, particularly following an attack carried out in a place of worship during an active church service.
Residents who spoke after the incident described the development as disturbing and unprecedented, noting that many people no longer feel safe in public spaces.
Some business owners in Ogbor Hill said fear has continued to affect commercial activities in parts of Aba whenever reports of cult clashes emerge. Others called on security agencies to intensify patrols and intelligence gathering in areas frequently associated with violent confrontations.
The attack also triggered conversations on social media, where many residents expressed concern over the frequency of cult-related killings in Abia’s commercial hub.
While security agencies have conducted operations against criminal groups in different parts of the state in recent years, incidents linked to cult rivalry continue to surface intermittently, especially in densely populated sections of Aba.
As of the time of this report, police authorities in Abia State had not released an official statement regarding the church killing or the separate incident reported in Aba North.
Investigations are expected to continue as residents await further details from law enforcement agencies concerning the identities of those involved and the motive behind the attack.
