*Says people connected with attacks invited
*As Governor Obiano picks up medical bills for treatments
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Garba Umar, has said that Sunday’s shooting in a church in the state that left about 11 persons dead and scores seriously injured had nothing to do with terrorist attacks.
He said the case was purely an isolated case of feud between two individuals.
Addressing newsmen in his office, Umar described the act as sacrilegious, but added that it would be premature to disclose the identities of those involved.
“At about 6.30 am, I got a distress call that gunmen had invaded St. Philip Catholic Church, Umuezekwe Ofufe, Amakwa village in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government while the mass was going on and shot at worshippers,” he said.
He said he quickly led a team of operatives to the scene to rescue the worshippers, adding that victims were evacuated to the hospital where the authority confirmed 11 persons dead, while 18 others were injured.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was as a result of a feud between two individuals who are from the community but live outside Nigeria.
“One of the individuals built the church where the incident occurred. It is definitely not a terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen attack.” he added.
According to the commissioner, the state governor, Willie Obiano who visited the scene while he was there, assured the injured persons of his support in offsetting the medical bills.
He said the command have invited some members of the community in connection with the incident, promising to brief the public after investigations are concluded.
“The command under my watch will leave no stone unturned in locating and prosecuting those behind the masacar of innocent worshippers.” he assured.
Meanwhile, one of the victims, Stephen Ohamadike said those of them who were to say the prayers were already set when he suddenly saw someone on a cap shooting sporadically inside the church.
“There was pandemonium and in the midst of the confusion, I just lay down on the floor. The officiating priest and the Mass servers quickly left the alter and the Mass came to an abrupt end.” he said.
He said he counted 11 dead people and many with all kinds of wound, adding that he used the vehicle belonging to one of the feuding persons to take him and his wife and others to Evans Hospital.
“I used the car to convey many other people to the hospital before I came back.” he added.
