Suspected Gunmen Who Invaded Church in Anambra Killing 12 Worshippers Nabbed by the Police

Aloysius Ikegwuonu, the suspected target of the gunman who killed 12 worshippers in the church

 

The Police have apprehended some suspects allegedly involved in the killing of 12 people at the St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu area of Anambra State, Channels TV has reported.

 

The announcement was made by the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, who revealed the latest report on Monday.

 

“We have actually picked up some of the key members,” he said without giving more details about the arrests.

 

He added, “I am confident that we are going to solve this problem and the way we handle it will show them (the perpetrators) that you can’t import your trouble from wherever you are in Africa and bring it to Anambra State.”

 

Giving an account of the incident on Sunday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, told Channels Television that the gunmen went into the church during an early morning mass and shot sporadically at worshippers.

 

He further explained that the attack was not unconnected to what he described as gang violence between some indigenes of the state.

 

“Information further revealed that this is not unconnected to a kind of a ‘gang war’ between indigenes of the state – the children of the same village – who are engaged in a warfare outside Nigeria, precisely in South Africa”.

 

According to him, many people were injured in the attack while some of the victims died on their way to the hospital.

 

Reacting to the incident, the President, Muhammadu Buhari also condemned the attack, describing it as an unspeakable sacrilege.

 

Expressing his grief in a strongly worded statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said that “there was no justification whatsoever to target church worshippers and kill them in cold blood.

 

He, however, reassured Nigerians of his administration’s firm and uncompromising commitment to protecting their lives and property at all times. Meanwhile, Monday has been set aside as a day of mourning for the victims even as more Nigerians have come out to condemn the act.