Authorities states that about 11 people were killed during the mass shooting at St. Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. Sunday, 6th August, 2017. About 18 worshippers reportedly sustained sever injuries.
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St. Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu |
Parishioners gathered for the 6:am Mass, into the service, at about the time for "Prayer for the Faithful", unknown men drove into the Church premises in an SUV, eye-witness reports that after the gunmen recognised a vehicle in the parking lot, a gunman went into the Church and shot at an elderly man identified as Pa Ikegwuonu, father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a South African based business man reported to have built St Philip's Catholic Church, scene of the incident, and one other Church in the community.
Not done, the "cap-wearing" gunman shot sporadically at other worshippers. The shooting left several people killed and more others injured including Pa Ikegwuonu's wife.
The killing has been attributed to counter-stroke between two indigenes of Ozubulu community reported to be Drug-barons. One of the dealers was named as Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, son of one of the casualties, Pa Ikegwuonu.
Remains of deceased persons have been deposited at a nearby morgue while the injured persons are receiving treatment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, and all state holders have condemned the act and promised to continue to offer all forms of necessary assistance to security agencies as they track down the perpetrators.