Anambra Catholic Church killing: Jihadists or assassins?

Jonathan Ekene Ifeanyi

Boko Haram terrorists

Parents Are Donating Their Daughters to Boko Haram in Nigeria to Become Suicide Bombers, says townhall.com. This news was reported by several Nigerian newspapers yesterday, and everybody accepted it as something "normal". And it is—because Boko Haram terrorists operate in northern Nigeria, and commit all their atrocities there. But that same yesterday, some gunmen in military uniform invaded a Novus Ordo Catholic Church in Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria—just exactly the way Boko Haram does in Northern Nigeria—and shot several worshippers to death.  Abnormal!                                                                

Many people were killed in a church attack in Ozubulu town in southeast Nigeria on August 6, 2017

 Blood stains after the killings in the church.

Some of the worshippers killed in St. Philips Catholic Church, in Anambra by gunmen

Here is what Anambra Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar (a Muslim) told Nigerians, as reported by Vanguard newspaper of yesterday, August 6:

Police confirms killings of worshippers during Sunday mass in Anambra ON AUGUST 6, 201712:42 PMIN

NEWSCOMMENTS Awka – The police in Anambra on Sunday confirmed that a gunman killed eight worshippers and injured 18 others in an early morning attack on St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, in Awka said that the remains of the dead had been deposited at Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. Umar also said that the injured were taken to the hospital. He said that preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the attack was carried out by a native of the area. “From our findings, it is very clear that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area. 

“We gathered that worshippers for 6 o’clock Sunday mass at St. Philip Ozobulu were in the service when a gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire. 

“The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshippers,’’ he said. 

The commissioner said information available to police showed that the attacker was speaking undiluted Igbo Language at the time he was firing at worshippers. Umar said though no arrest had been made but that the police already learnt that the attack followed a quarrel between two natives of Ozubulu residing overseas. Describing the act as sacrilegious, the commissioner of police said it was wrong for the perpetrators of the act to extend their quarrel into the church. He added: “such conduct shows the people behind the act do not fear God.’’ He said the police had launched a manhunt on those behind the act and gave an assurance that everybody behind the act would be brought to justice. Umar described any insinuation that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram elements as false and urged the people to go about their normal businesses. He said the police were on top of the situation. (NAN)

(Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/police-confirms-killings-worshippers-sunday-mass-anambra/)

The said "Catholic Church" is certainly one of those completely bastardised Churches in eastern Nigeria where money and human "personalities" — usually some stupid & illiterate but money-producing traders — rather than God are being adored and celebrated by the ever-money-loving Novus Ordo clergy. Imagine a drug dealer building a church for God! 

Another newspaper, PM News, confirming the above Vanguard report, says the attack was a "spillover of a drug related feud, between two Ozubulu brothers who live in South Africa" — one of whom built the church!

PM News:

Anambra Shooting: See Photo Of Man Gunmen Came For

Aloysius Ikegwuonu, the man claimed by some to have been traced to the church by the gunmen who killed several worshippers in the church

Earlier today Ozubulu attack that left many worshippers dead, after gunmen stormed St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu in Anambra state was reported.

However, social media report claim that the attack was a spillover of a drug related feud, between two Ozubulu brothers who live in South Africa.

The main matter was said to be between Chief Aloy Ikegwuonu a.k.a Bishop (rumoured to be a drug baron), and another Ozubulu man popularly known as Obrocho.

It was gathered that the gunmen had traced him to his house, but were told he had gone to church where he was meant to hold a thanksgiving service.

According to reports, the battle had claimed some lives already over there in South Africa.                                                                          

If this report is true, then the question arises: why did the gunmen target everybody in the Church? Even the most callous of Igbo criminals don't act like that! 

Here is a report from an eyewitness, already posted by some on facebook:    

                                             

Firsthand Information On What Happened At St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State Yesterday, As Ejike Ofoegbu Arrived Anambra From Aba:

We all were in the church during the 6am morning mass today. We saw two cars that drove into the church; because it was a Church premises we over-looked it and we considered them to be people that came for morning mass. But to the surprise of everyone, the car halted at the centre of the gate, meaning you cannot close the gate, since it was open already.

The driver came out of the car pretending he was fixing a problem; so everyone still ignored the drama happening outside the premises.

Suddenly, some men came out from the car, fully armed, all in Army uniform. I was lucky because I was sitting at the back, just beside the door, but I was clearly seeing what was happening. The sky was cloudy and everywhere seemed dark; no one saw what they were carrying, whether it was gun, but surely they were fully equipped.

They immediately rushed to the front door. I was too lucky to jump the fence, but before I had jumped, I heard gunshot everywhere in the building. They obstructed the front gate, because for women that was their only route to escape. That was why women were killed more than men. Children were killed as well, many were seriously injured.

After I had escaped, I started making calls to link my church members who were in the church, but they were not picking up; not knowing they were dead already.

The gunmen were not Igbos, because their language was not Igbo. The government should stop lying. I heard they said that the gunmen were flashing torchlight on us, but it is a lie, because the whole church was so lighted that even from outside you could see who was inside. Even at that, if they were really flashing torchlight to know who was their target, were those that were killed their target?

                                                    
Like I said before—and I will say it again: I was at the back door. I saw all that happened. They were in Army uniform, face covered, standing at the front door, holding their trigger, and shooting at anything that moved. When the police came, I was waiting for them to ask questions of what happened, so that I would explain, but they were busy taking pictures of the dead ones, without knowing the fact.

Not too long after they had gone, I went back to the church. I was shocked by what I saw: my mother was lying dead! Many people were unconscious but later succumbed to death.

About one hour after the killings, the Police arrived the church. Two hours later, the Governor, Willie Obiano, arrived too. Everyone was shocked, wandering how the perpetrators stormed in Army uniform. Questions began to arise: "Who gave them the Army uniform? Who gave them the Army car?"

Surely jihad is here, and everyone has to defend himself/herself. A woman who still survived the mayhem said, "All I could remember is that I was sitting at the front when some people in Army uniform invaded the Church and started shooting at everyone. They just held the trigger and fired at everyone they sighted. I managed to hide under the seat but was shot in the leg. A boy was shot on the head, his brain busted, and blood spilled everywhere - even at my face.

—Ejike Ofoegbu Reporting.

No further comment for now.