By Sam Obinna Ibe Umuahia
Th e police have apprehended some suspects allegedly involved in the killing of 12 people at the St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Ozubulu area of Anambra state. Governor Willie Obiano, who visited the scene of the attack, had promised that investigations would commence immediately to bring the perpetrators to book. Giving an account of the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Garba Umar, told Channels Television that the gunmen went into the church during an early morning mass and shot sporadically at worshippers.
He further explained that the attack was not unconnected to what he described as gang violence between some indigenes of the state. “Information further revealed that this is not unconnected to a kind of a ‘gang war’ between indigenes of the state – the children of the same village – who are engaged in warfare outside Nigeria, precisely in South Africa.” According to him, many people were injured in the attack while some of the victims died on their way to the hospital.
Reacting to the incident, the President, Muhammadu Buhari also condemned the attack, describing it as an unspeakable sacrilege. Expressing his grief in a strongly worded statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said that “there was no justifi cation whatsoever to target church worshippers and kill them in cold blood. He, however, reassured Nigerians of his administration’s fi rm and uncompromising commitment to protecting their lives and property at all times.
