The Anambra State Police Command has begun an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of a man, his wife and his daughter at a church in Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Haruna Mohammed, made the disclosure while confirming the killings to journalists on Friday in Awka.
“Investigation is ongoing to enable police to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killings.
“Effort is being intensified in order to arrest perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Mohammed said.
Assailants stormed the church at 7p.m. on Wednesday and attacked the family members during a midweek church service.
The three died on the spot, while one other person sustained injuries during the attack.
A source who pleaded anonymity said that the victims were a 70-year-old businessman, his 56-year-old wife – a school headmistress – and their
36-year-old daughter, a postgraduate student.
He said that the fourth victim was a 42-year-old secondary schoolteacher in the community.
“A masked gunman came on a motorcycle to the church, walked inside and rained bullets on the affected persons after collecting the key of Mercedes C Class from the secondary schoolteacher.
“The assailant later moved to meet his cohorts, who were waiting outside; thereafter, they sped off with the car.
“On their way, the car developed a problem, they abandoned it at Okija, a neighbouring town,” the source said.
The car was later recovered by local security guards.
