A day of prayer, worship and joyful noise at a church in anambra, southeastern Nigeria on Sunday turned into a day of sorrow and dirge rent the air as unknown gunmen opened fire on the hundreds of worshippers gathered at St. Philip Catholic Church in Ozubulu killing more than 10 people and injuring 18 others.
An eyewitness said that scores of worshipers were killed when gunmen entered the church during the 5.45 a.m. mass, identified a particular man and shot him. He said the gunmen later went on a rampage and opened fire at the remaining worshipers numbering over 100, noting that scores of people were killed on the spot.
The insinuation that the attack was carried out by the Boko Haram terrorists has been dispelled by the police, According to the State Police Commissioner, Garba Umar, preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the attack was carried out by natives of the area and the insinuation that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram elements was false.
The Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano who later visited the church on Sunday, affirms that the attack on St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu is not a church invasion as wisely reported. He condemned the attack and called a sacrilege.
The governor revealed that that two sons of Ozubulu -who are known drug barons in South Africa -were the prime suspects in the matter having dragged down their drug war to the state. “We can’t allow this happen in Anambra, we must get everyone involved to face the music” the governor declared
Gov Obiano also visited Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where the injured are being treated.
“So far, 12 persons have been confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary here while several persons are receiving medical attention,” a staff worker at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, where the victims were admitted, told AFP.
