…Call for urgent investigations
Jude Owuamanam Managing Editor, Northern Operations
President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, and National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman, have condemned the massacre of innocent people in a church in Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State
They made their views known in separate statements.
Olasupo in a statement made available to Sundiatapost, while commiserating with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano and the families of the victims of th Rev Dr Supo Ayokunle, described the attack unwarranted, senseless, and wicked
The statement said,”According to reports, the police in Anambra has 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.
“What are these silly gunmen here and there turning our nation to be? Whatever may be the reason or reasons for this dastardly act cannot justify this criminal jungle justice. Without doubt, the act is a madness the all of us must condemn in strong terms.
I urge the Federal Government through the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in particular to address the issue of proliferation of arms and ammunitions so as to make our world safer.
“The perpetrators of this ungodly act must be brought to book without delay. I call on the Police to fish out those responsible and there must not be any cover up. Enough of these killings in the country.
If the places of worship are no longer safe again, what has become the security of lives and property?
We pray to God to console and comfort all the bereaved and heal those who are recuperating in the hospitals,” the statement added.
In his own statement, Leman said, the massacre of scores of worshippers at Saint Philip’s Catholic church Ozubulu in Anambra State this morning further raises concern over Nigeria’s gradual drift to anarchy.
He said tha although there was no immediate confirmation of the reason behind this despicable cowardly act allegedly by a lone wolf , the attack is unequivocally detestable and must be addressed with all the seriousness it deserves and swiftly too.
The statement said, ” The Nigeria Union of Journalists, shares the grief of the Catholic Church and wishes to condole with the Government, and people of Anambra state as well as the families of the deceased over the unfortunate incident. The attack was unwarranted, unprovoked and needless. It can only be described as the handiwork of an emotionally hardened person or individual of unstable mind.
“The NUJ is thus upset over this tragedy that befell Ozubulu people and notes that the level of insecurity of life and property in the country keeps rising with no reasonable solution in sight. This is a clear sign of danger to Nigeria’s democracy and to National Security, which requires the cooperation of all Nigerians to contain. It is pertinent to call on the Nation’s security apparatus to rise up to its billing to arrest this dangerous trend or risk pushing the Nation into self – destruct.”
