Security
THE attack on St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, which led to the killings of about 11 persons, has continued to attract condemnation of Nigerian leaders across the country.
Bukola Saraki, Senate president; Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the House of Representatives: Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have all condemned the callous attack on worshippers at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State.
In a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media adviser, Saraki who expressed his sadness on the incident, described the killing of worshippers as the purest kind of evil, and charged the security services to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The statement said: “Today, my heart goes out to Nigeria’s Christian community, Governor Willy Obiano, the people of Anambra State, and the families of the victims and the survivors of this terrible massacre.
“This brutal act of attacking innocent and unsuspecting worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.
“Our security forces must not stop until everyone involved in the orchestration and execution of today’s massacre in St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Anambra are brought to book by the strong arm of justice.”
Dogara described the attack as “abominable, barbaric, inhuman, and the height of wickedness.”
In a statement signed by Turaki Hassan, his spokesman, the speaker said his “heart is broken” by the sad news, adding: “Have we lost our humanity? Where is the place of sanctity of life and sacredness of worship places in our society? What offence did the worshippers commit to warrant their massacre in cold blood by wicked souls and heartless men?”
Dogara lamented that the increasing state of insecurity was reducing Nigeria to the state of nature, with life increasingly becoming cheap.
He reiterated his call for the overhaul of Nigeria’s policing architecture that would lead to reform the police, equip them with sophisticated gadgets so as to discharge their duties of protecting lives and property effectively, and ensure social order.
Dogara called on security agencies to find the perpetrators of the “heinous crime” and bring them to justice speedily.
On his part, Umahi, who is also the chairman of the South East Governors Forum, described the attack on worshipers at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu as a national tragedy.
Umahi, in a statement by Emmanuel Uzor, his chief press secretary, condoled with the government of Anambra State and entire Catholic faithful of Nnewi Catholic Diocese as well as families of those that lost their loved ones and called for proper investigation to unravel the true cause of the carnage at the church.
“This type of wickedness has further opened a fresh wound in our soul and further pointed to the dynamism of human existence. I on behalf of the good people of Ebonyi State condemn the wanton killings recorded yesterday in a church in Anambra state,” the governor said.
In the same vein, Ikpeazu said he was sad over the shooting. In a statement by Enyinnaya Appolos, his chief press secretary, Ikpeazu called on security agents to investigate the incident and speedily bring the perpetrators to justice.
Ikpeazu added: “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.”
In his condolence message to the people of Anambra State, Ngige urged security agents to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder. The minister said: “This killing, so dastardly and so wicked is a dangerous dimension which is very alien to our people and culture. I therefore call on the police and other relevant security agencies to leave no stone unturned in tracking down the murderers and bringing them to justice.”
In a statement, the APC condemned the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenceless people as they worshipped.
The party called on security agencies “to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are promptly apprehended and brought to justice.”
The party also called 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.”
Police said that at least 11 people were killed in the Sunday morning shooting when the shooter opened fire at a crowd of worshippers attending the morning’s mass at the church.
According to the police, the preliminary investigation pointed to a feud between two individuals of the same community who reside outside the country.
“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,” Garba Umar, the state’s police commissioner, said.
After the shooting, the most of the victims were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi for treatment.
Aug 7,2017 @ 16:00 GMT
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