Gunmen on Sunday struck at the Assemblies
of God Church on the Oguta road Onitsha ,
Anambra State killing one policeman and a
civilian.
This is coming seven days after gunmen
attacked St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu
and killed no fewer than 13 persons and
injured 27 .
An eyewitness account told our
correspondent that the gunmen had
momentarily stopped at the Assemblies of
God Church, but on sighting some policemen
at the church , opened fire on them .
“ When the firing became too hot , the
policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and
ran away for safety.
“ The gunmen moved to their patrol van and
took a gun belonging to the policeman they
killed.
“ I saw two of the gunmen but I can ’ t say how
many they are in number.
Another eyewitness said, “Gunmen on Okada
( motorcycle) shot a policeman and collected
his rifle . They also shot dead an Okada man
while escaping , and the passenger he was
carrying was injured. The policeman was the
one armed among his colleagues ; they were
providing security while church service was
going on at Assemblies of God Church, Oguta
road Onitsha.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police ,
Mr Garba Umar confirmed the incident to
journalists.
He said it was not an attack on the church ,
adding “My men were on patrol near the
church when they were attacked by some
gunmen . It was not an attack on the church ,
in the real sense of it ” .
The commissioner confirmed that the
hoodlums took away a rifle belonging to the
slain cop.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr
Chris Ngige had on Saturday said the Federal
Government would work out modalities on
how to secure places of worship in the
country.
Leading a federal government delegation to
commiserate with the people of Anambra
State on the Ozubulu shooting , Ngige said
that had become expedient following
incessant attacks on places of worship .
Source: @ Punch NG
Leave a Reply