Anambra church killings: Obiano talks tough; APC, Ikpeazu, Chidoka, ex-SSG, APGA Chairman mourn

It was a gory sight on Sunday at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State.
Gunmen stormed the church during the early hour Holy Mass and opened fire.
A source said the gunmen traced a drug dealer to the church. When they could not locate him, “they vented their anger on innocent worshippers”.
After their exit, blood was everywhere. The source said close to 20 parishioners died but the state Police Commissioner, Mr Garba Umar, said only eight people were killed while 18 others were injured.
Those injured were rushed to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi
From Awka, the state capital, Governor Willie Obiano immediately stormed Ozubulu which is close to Nnewi to offer assistance to the injured and sympathise with the clergy.
The governor was moved to tears when he saw blood inside the church and on the premises.
Talking tough, he vowed not to rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Umar was with the governor.
Obiano expressed grief over the death of the worshippers, describing the attack as “barbaric, sacrilegious and totally unacceptable”, while also debunking speculations of possible invasion.
According to him, intelligence report linked the shooting to an existing feud between some members of Umuezekwe Ofufe Amakwa community of Ozubulu living abroad.
“It is an isolated case and I urge worshippers in the Church and residents of the area to go about their normal activities.”
Obiano assured the community that his administration was on top of the situation and later visited the injured persons receiving treatment at NAUTH.
He promised that the state government would pay the hospital bills of the victims.
He also said that 50 doctors had been mobilised to the hospital to assist in providing the best medical care to the injured persons.
The governor also visited Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Cathedral, Nnewi, where he addressed a congregation of worshippers.
He intimated the worshippers on the true picture of the incident, saying there was nothing to worry about.
Earlier, the Parish Priest of St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso, said that the attack took place about 6.30 a.m. during a Holy Mass celebration.
According to the priest, an unidentified man came into the Church, shot at a man, Chief Akunwafor Ikegwuonwu, before shooting sporadically at other worshippers.
An eyewitness, who simply identified herself as a choir member, said that the church was dark as there was no light.
She said that the generating set suddenly developed fault; so, the mass proceeded with the congregation using candles.
According to her, the gunman, after the shooting, immediately jumped into a waiting car with a driver and another occupant.
The Police Commissioner confirmed eight people dead and 18 others injured in the attack.
Former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, said he was saddened by the incident.
Chidoka decried the desecration of the temple of God, adding that nobody attacked anyone in the church even during war times.
“This is tragic; the church is a place of refuge to anyone who runs into it, and this wicked, barbaric and mindless bloodletting, shows that something has gone wrong on our psyche.
“My heart goes to the bereaved at this moment of pain. I pray that God grants the soul of the departed eternal rest as I urge the security agents to fish out the perpetrators and make them face the law,” he said.
On his part, Mr Oseloka Obaze, a former Secretary to Anambra Government, said such callous attacks dehumanised the society.
“Our heart goes to the family and parishioners of St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, where unidentified gunmen reportedly killed several church members and wounded several others early today.
‘’Such violent incidents dehumanise our society.”
In his reaction, Dr Victor Oye, the National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said that no amount of provocation could justify the killing of innocent people who had gone to worship in a Church.
Oye, who described the attack as wicked, urged the security agencies to unravel those responsible for the dastardly act.
“As a political leader, I totally condemn the Ozubulu Church shooting as dastardly, unjustifiable and callous.
“Nobody has the right to kill innocent citizens. The Police and other relevant security agencies should ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are caught and made to face justice,” he said.
Chief Jude Emecheta, who hails from Ozubulu, said that “a dark cloud has befallen my peaceful town”.
Emecheta, who is the Managing Director of Anambra Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), said that the losses from the attack were too much for the people to bear.
He wondered why brothers could visit such attack on their people and urged those involved to ‘’sheathe their swords”.
Clarifying further, the police commissioner said: “We gathered that worshippers for 6 o’clock Sunday mass at St. Philip Ozobulu were in the service when a gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire.
“The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshippers’’.
The commissioner said information available to police showed that the attacker was speaking undiluted Igbo language at the time he was firing at worshippers.
Umar said though no arrest had been made but that the police already learnt that the attack followed a quarrel between two natives of Ozubulu residing overseas.
Describing the act as sacrilegious, the police commissioner said it was wrong for the perpetrators of the act to extend their quarrel into the church.
“Such conduct shows the people behind the act do not fear God.’’
He said the police had launched a manhunt on those behind the act and gave an assurance that everybody behind the act would be brought to justice.
Umar described any insinuation that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram elements as false and urged the people to go about their normal businesses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Adebiyi, said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) commiserates with the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the government and people of Anambra State over the attack on St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, which led to the death of scores of worshipers.
“The APC condemns the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenceless people while they worshiped. 
“The Party calls on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are promptly apprehended and brought to justice. 
“The Party also calls on security agents in Anambra as well as other parts of the country to provide adequate security in places of worship to forestall a repeat of this unfortunate incident. We pray that the souls of the deceased rest in peace.”
Also, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, expressed sadness over the killings and sent his condolences to Obiano.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Enyinnaya Appolos, Ikpeazu called on security agents to fully investigate the incident and speedily bring the perpetrators to justice.
Said Ikpeazu: “We cannot afford to have criminal elements, in whatever guise, invade places of worship and unleash mayhem on innocent people. The thoughts and prayers of the good people of Abia State are with our brothers in Anambra State as we mourn with them over the sad incident.”
He prayed God to heal the injured and grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss.