The All Progressives Congress (APC) commiserated with the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the government and people of Anambra State over the attack on St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, which led to the death of scores of worshipers.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi in a statement released in Abuja on Sundayevening, condemned the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenseless people while they worshiped.
The Party further called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are promptly apprehended and brought to justice, it also called on security agents in Anambra as well as other parts of the country to provide adequate security in places of worship to forestall a repeat of this unfortunate incident.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Garba Umar, had promised not to leave any stone unturned to bring the attackers to justice during a news conference in Awka, where he gave the updated figures of casualties as 11 dead and 18 injured.
He ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, and spoke about an isolated feud between individuals in the community.
He said that the command had invited some suspects who would be useful to the investigation.
“At about 6.30 a.m. today, Aug. 6, I got a distress call that gunmen had invaded and shot at worshippers at St. Philips Catholic Church, Umuezekwe, Ofufe, Amakwa Village in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Located Government Area.
“As a result I, the Commissioner of Police, led my operatives immediately to the scene to rescue worshippers.
“The command, under my watch, will leave no stone unturned in locating and prosecuting those behind the massacre of innocent worshippers.
“The intelligence report and preliminary investigation showed that the incident was as a result of a feud between two individuals from the same community living outside Nigeria.
“One of the individuals built the church where the shooting occurred; it is definitely not a terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen attack.
“The command will brief the public after investigation is concluded; I commiserate with all those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident.
“I also encourage ‘ndi’ Anambra to be vigilant and to promptly report suspicious movements or strange observation of persons and actions in their localities to the security agencies.’’ Umar said.
