Gunmen killed Anglican priest Emmanuel Ezeokwe in an attack on a vicarage in Zinai community, Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in the early hours of Tuesday. The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the attack occurred at approximately 12:48 a.m. and was reported by a resident at 6:30 a.m. Police spokesperson Suleiman Nguroje said officers responded to the scene and transported the victim to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Three empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the vicarage, and an investigation has been initiated. Commissioner of Police Kabir Hassan has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a detailed probe, with tactical teams deployed to apprehend the attackers.
Archbishop Markus Ibrahim of the Yola Diocese described the killing as a major loss to the church and urged calm among worshippers. The attack adds to a series of violent incidents in rural parts of Adamawa State, especially in communities near the Sambisa Forest axis. In February 2026, at least 25 people were killed in coordinated attacks on villages in Madagali and Hong, where homes were burned and residents displaced. Some attackers arrived on motorcycles and wore military-style clothing, striking multiple locations including a military base. Communities near the Cameroon border remain vulnerable due to difficult terrain and delayed security responses. The region's proximity to the Sambisa Forest, a known base for Boko Haram and ISWAP, has contributed to prolonged insecurity.
The killing of a priest inside his vicarage at 12:48 a.m. exposes the failure of security forces to protect even religious figures in known conflict zones. If tactical teams are only being deployed after the attack, then response timelines are too slow to prevent loss of life in Song and similar communities. The fact that three AK-47 shells were recovered but no arrests made suggests a pattern of post-incident documentation over prevention. This undermines any claim of effective rural security in Adamawa's vulnerable areas.
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