11 killed, Many Injured as Gunman Attack Church in Anambra
No fewer than 11 people have been confirmed dead and several others Injured as a gunman stormed St. Philip’s
Catholic Church, Amakwa-Ozubulu in Ekwusigo
Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday, opening fire on worshippers.
TheSource Nigeria gathered that the
gunman made his way into the church during the early morning mass.
Many were injured during the incident, which
Governor Willie Obiano described as “sacrilegious”.
An eyewitness, who narrated how the attack
occurred, said the priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso,
was unhurt. The witness, who said he was part of
those who evacuated the victims, said the gunman
went into the church, identified Chief Akunwafor
Ikegwuonwu, a parishioner, and shot him dead. He
then went on the rampage, shooting
indiscriminately at worshippers.
Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar said 11
persons were killed and 18 injured. He said some
people in the community had been invited for
interrogation.
It was leant that the gunman may have struck on
the instruction of one of two suspected drug
barons from the community who live in South
Africa. One of them, who was the gunman’s target,
is believed to have built the Catholic Church about
two years ago.
The father of the suspected drug baron was killed
along with others.
The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Obiano visited the church and the Nnamdi Azikwe
University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi where
the injured were being treated.
Obiano promised to offset the medical bills of the
injured and assist in the funeral for those killed.
According to an eye witness report, the church was dark as there
was no power supply at the time. The generating set suddenly stopped
working so, the mass proceeded with the
congregation using candles.
The gunman, after the shooting,
immediately jumped into a waiting car with a driver.
One of the survivors, Mr. Stephen Ohamadike
revealed that the gunmen entered the church
around 6.45am as they were about to begin “ the
prayer of the faithful”.
His words: “Those of us who were to say the
prayers of the faithful had just assembled at the
altar and I had number 2 which meant that I was to
say the prayer for Nigeria.
“Suddenly, I saw someone who was putting on a
cap, shooting indiscriminately inside the church.
“There was pandemonium and in the midst of the
confusion, I just lay down on the floor.
”The officiating priest and the Mass servers quickly
left the altar and the Mass came to an abrupt end.
”I counted 11 bodies and many were injured. I used
the vehicle belonging to Pa Ikwgwuonu to take him
and his wife and others to Evans Hospital where
the doctors advised us to go to the teaching
hospital. I used the car to convey many other
people to the hospital before I came back to
Amakwa.”
Dismisssing the rumour that the attack was carried
out by Boko Haram elements, the police commissioner said preliminary
investigation revealed that the attack was carried
out by people from the area and not by Boko
Haram as being speculated in some quarters.
“One of the individuals built the church where
the shooting occurred; it is definitely not a
terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram
of Fulani herdsmen attack,” said Umar.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that more than 16
casualties are now in stable conditions while
six had undergone surgeries successfully.
Catholic Church, Amakwa-Ozubulu in Ekwusigo
Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday, opening fire on worshippers.
gunman made his way into the church during the early morning mass.
Many were injured during the incident, which
Governor Willie Obiano described as “sacrilegious”.
An eyewitness, who narrated how the attack
occurred, said the priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso,
was unhurt. The witness, who said he was part of
those who evacuated the victims, said the gunman
went into the church, identified Chief Akunwafor
Ikegwuonwu, a parishioner, and shot him dead. He
then went on the rampage, shooting
indiscriminately at worshippers.
Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar said 11
persons were killed and 18 injured. He said some
people in the community had been invited for
interrogation.
It was leant that the gunman may have struck on
the instruction of one of two suspected drug
barons from the community who live in South
Africa. One of them, who was the gunman’s target,
is believed to have built the Catholic Church about
two years ago.
The father of the suspected drug baron was killed
along with others.
The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Obiano visited the church and the Nnamdi Azikwe
University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi where
the injured were being treated.
Obiano promised to offset the medical bills of the
injured and assist in the funeral for those killed.
According to an eye witness report, the church was dark as there
was no power supply at the time. The generating set suddenly stopped
working so, the mass proceeded with the
congregation using candles.
The gunman, after the shooting,
immediately jumped into a waiting car with a driver.
One of the survivors, Mr. Stephen Ohamadike
revealed that the gunmen entered the church
around 6.45am as they were about to begin “ the
prayer of the faithful”.
His words: “Those of us who were to say the
prayers of the faithful had just assembled at the
altar and I had number 2 which meant that I was to
say the prayer for Nigeria.
“Suddenly, I saw someone who was putting on a
cap, shooting indiscriminately inside the church.
“There was pandemonium and in the midst of the
confusion, I just lay down on the floor.
”The officiating priest and the Mass servers quickly
left the altar and the Mass came to an abrupt end.
”I counted 11 bodies and many were injured. I used
the vehicle belonging to Pa Ikwgwuonu to take him
and his wife and others to Evans Hospital where
the doctors advised us to go to the teaching
hospital. I used the car to convey many other
people to the hospital before I came back to
Amakwa.”
Dismisssing the rumour that the attack was carried
out by Boko Haram elements, the police commissioner said preliminary
investigation revealed that the attack was carried
out by people from the area and not by Boko
Haram as being speculated in some quarters.
“One of the individuals built the church where
the shooting occurred; it is definitely not a
terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram
of Fulani herdsmen attack,” said Umar.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that more than 16
casualties are now in stable conditions while
six had undergone surgeries successfully.
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