How gunmen killed 11 in Catholic Church

… Shooting caused by feud between brothers living outside Nigeria

Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State hug the limelight, yesterday, but for the wrong reason. This followed the early morning attack at St Philip’s Catholic Church by a suspected gang member believed to be part of rival drug cartel.

The attack, which took place while the priest was rounding off  the first Mass of the day at about 6am, has turned the otherwise sleepy town  into a tourist centre overnight, even as the people mourn their dead and count their losses.

When the dare-devil gunman stormed the church premises, he reportedly went to the powerhouse and turned off electricity supply. While the parishioners were still wondering what was happening, he slipped into the church auditorium and sprayed it with bullets. By the time the booming guns were silent, not only was the altar of God defiled, many laid cold in their pool of blood. 

Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, in a press statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Nkiru Nwode, confirmed 11 persons died and 18 injured. However, unofficial reports put the casualty figure at over a score.

The dead and the living were later conveyed to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi.

CP Umar said preliminary investigations revealed that the bloodbath was executed by a native of the area.

“From our findings, it is very clear that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area.

“We gathered that worshippers for 6 o’clock Sunday Mass at St. Philip’s Ozobulu were in the service when a gunman, dressed in black attire and  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.”

According to sources, yesterday’s attack was not an isolated case.

“There has been ongoing face-off between suspected cartel based in South Africa. Some persons were allegedly killed last year in South Africa. 

During the burial, members of the other gang came for revenge also. The gang fight has continued…So, don’t be deceived. This is a fallout of drug fight that stretches from South Africa among our boys. They came looking for one of their own,” the source said.

Governor Willie Obiano, who was at the scene, revealed that preliminary security investigations showed that the shooting was caused by a feud between two brothers from the community living outside Nigeria

“This is sacrilegious, totally unacceptable in Anambra State,” he said.

He asked the people to go about their businesses without fear or panic, noting that this isolated case must be followed to the root and perpetrators brought to book. 

“We can’t allow this happen in Anambra; we must get everyone involved to face the music” the governor declared

Gov. Obiano also visited Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where the injured are being treated.

The governor, who thanked the over 50 doctors looking after the injured, gave assurance that all medical bills would be taken care of by the state government.

Meanwhile, Daily Sun gathered that the attack was an alleged outcome of disagreement in business between two cabals based in South Africa, which has led to the death of some people earlier.

A source, which pleaded anonymity, said: “In fact, their matter has even been tried at the palace of our traditional ruler, but some people did not like how the matter was handled.

“In the last one year, about five persons from this community have been killed in South Africa. Even the manager of one of them was killed not too long ago. His Oga, the man who trained him, was also killed last year; the man just left for South Africa, after his Christmas celebration here. Within two weeks after he returned to South, he was killed.

“I don’t know why the people decided to kill innocent people in the church; even the person I learnt they came for has been so good to the people here. All these tarred road were done by him.”

At Bishops house, people were seen weeping for the death of one of the church topshot.

One of them said: “The policeman asked him when he was going in the morning and he said he should not worry because the church has security gaurds. 

By the time we heard the gunshot and got there they had gone. Baba was too good, but again if Baba was their target why did they kill innocent people after they had shot him. This is what is annoying me the most.”

Survivors speak

Some survivors of the gun attack said the incident happened like a thriller movie.

According to Anne Ejidike, who had a bullet wound, the 6am Mass was almost ending when the incident happened

“Father had finished sermon and asked everybody to stand up to say the creed; as we stood up and he blessed the people, we heard gunshots and immediately I saw the Father ran out the other way. He was the first to run because he was facing the side the shooting was coming from.

“When I turned my back, I saw a man in all black shooting sporadically.  I immediately fell on my stomach. It was after that I started feeling pains in my legs. 

But thank God the doctors have checked it and said no bullet is inside. Many people died. I counted about 12 and they said some died at the hospital.”

Another lady, Miss Ogochukwu Maduka, who was the first to come to the church as usual, said her escape was miraculous.

Daily Sun Report.