Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State together with state commissioner of police Garba Umar has visited St Phillip’s Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA, where an armed and masked gunman murdered at least 12 worshippers and wounded 18 others at the 6am Mass this Sunday.
NAN quotes a witness who said the gunman, after they gained entry into the church, identified a particular man whom they shot, and then went on the rampage, shooting at “the remaining worshippers numbering over 100”.
Some worshippers who were critically injured died on their way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, a source said.
Security personnel have cordoned off the church, which has since been deserted.
UPDATE: The police in Anambra State have issued a statement explaining that the gunman is an indigene of Ozubulu and would be arrested:
The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Umar, has warned that the command will leave no stone unturned in fishing out the shooters at St Philip’s Catholic Church Amakwa Ozubul.
Unknown gunmen had today Sunday, 6th August 2017 entered the church, while the mass was going on and shot at worshipers.
Following a distress call, men of the police force rushed there and are presently rescuing the worshippers.
The hospital authority has confirmed 8 persons dead,and 18 injured. The command assures ndi Anambra that the police is on top of the situation and will fish out the perpetrators soon.
Intelligence report/Preliminary investigation proved that it is a fight between the two sons of the community living outside Nigeria that caused the incident,because one of them built the church where the incident happened. It is sacrilegious but, for now,is still premature to disclose the identities; we will brief the public after investigation is concluded.
Commissioner Umar commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones to the act and pledges that the command would not rest on its oars until perpetrators are brought to book.
However, citizens are advised to be vigilant and report suspicions movements and actions in their locality.
SIGNED
Asp NWODE NKEIRUKA
PPRO ANAMBRA STATE POLICE COMMAND
