Black Sunday: Many Killed As Gunmen Attack Catholic Church In Anambra

Unknown gunmen on Sunday raided a Catholic Church in Anambra state, killings scores of worshippers and leaving several other wounded.

A source who spoke from the church told newsmen that armed men invaded the St Phillips Catholic Church, Ofufe Amakwa, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State, shooting sporadically.

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But the time the gunfire cease, more than twenty worshipers have been killed in broad day light and many left with various degrees of injuries.

One of the source who simply gave his name as Ogechukwu said the invaders stormed the parish about 8:00 am during mass service.

According to the source, the gunmen were reportedly searching for a suspected Nigerian – South African based drug baron in the church who is a parishioner but when they could not find him, they opened fire on the worshippers who had gathered for the morning mass.

“The Parish Priest was not harmed but scores have been confirmed dead including children, while many were wounded by the bullets sprayed by the gunmen.

“The gunmen came looking for a prominent man who unknowingly to the gunmen had left the village a day before the incident.

“The attack may not be unconnected with a drug deal gone soar because the prominent man known as Nnamdi Ikegwounwu (Ebubechukwuuzo Ozubulu) is known to be the most dangerous drug baron based in South Africa and the financier of the church project that was invaded.” a source alleged.

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As at the time of this report, the death toll is on the increase while the injured and the lifeless bodies have been taken to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH Nnewi.

Meanwhile, the Anambra state police commissioner, Mr. Garba Umar has said that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area.

“We gathered that worshippers for 6a.m Sunday mass at St. Philip Catholic Church were in the service when the 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 opening fire, at his target, still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshippers. Information available to police showed that the attacker was speaking undiluted Igbo language at the time he was firing at worshippers.” Umar said.

According to the police boss, though no arrest has been made, but the police already learnt that the attack followed a quarrel between two natives of Ozubulu residing overseas, saying the police has launched a manhunt on those behind the act, giving assurance that everybody behind the act would be brought to justice.

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