Gunmen early Sunday morning attacked St Philips Catholic Church AmaKwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state killing scores of people and wounding several others.
Though 15 people were confirmed dead some people say up to 50 might have been killed.
The victims were participating at the 6am Mass when the trigger happy men invaded the area and blocked the three entrances into the church and began shooting indiscriminately thereby causing commotion.
Governor Willie Obiano has visited the church and the Nnadi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital where over 50 doctors are battling to save lives of the injured persons.
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.
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.
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.
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