•Fish out killers, say Ngige, Uba
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara have condemned the attack on St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State.
In a statement, the APC condemned the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenceless people as they worshipped.
The party 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”.
Dogara described the attack as “abominable, barbaric, inhuman, and the height of wickedness”.
In a statement signed by his spokesman Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said his “heart is broken” by the sad news.
He added: ”Have we lost our humanity? Where is the place of sanctity of life and sacredness of worship places in our society? What offence did the worshippers commit to warrant their massacre in cold blood by wicked souls and heartless men?”
The Speaker lamented that what he described as increasing insecurity was reducing Nigeria to the state of nature, with life increasingly becoming cheap.
He reiterated his call for the overhaul of Nigeria’s policing architecture that will lead to reform the police, equip them with sophisticated gadgets so as to discharge their duties of protecting lives and property effectively, and ensure social order.
Dogara called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the “heinous crime” and bring them to justice speedily.
Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is sad over the shooting.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, Ikpeazu called on security agents to investigate the incident and speedily bring the perpetrators to justice.
Ikpeazu added: “We cannot afford to have criminal elements, in whatever guise, invade places of worship and unleash mayhem on innocent people. The thoughts and prayers of the good people of Abia State are with our brothers in Anambra State as we mourn with them over the sad incident.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed deep sadness over the attack.
In a statement by his media adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the killing of worshippers as the purest kind of evil, and charged the security services to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The statement said: “Today, my heart goes out to Nigeria’s Christian community, Governor Willy Obiano, the people of Anambra State, and the families of the victims and the survivors of this terrible massacre.
“This brutal act of attacking innocent and unsuspecting worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.
“Our security forces must not stop until everyone involved in the orchestration and execution of today’s massacre in St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Anambra are brought to book by the strong arm of justice.”
The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has described yesterday’s attack on worshipers at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu as a national tragedy.
Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, condoled with the Government of Anambra State and entire Catholic faithful of Nnewi Catholic Diocese as well as families of those that lost their loved ones and called for proper investigation to unravel the true cause of the carnage at the church.
“This type of wickedness has further opened a fresh wound in our soul and further pointed to the dynamism of human existence. I on behalf of the good people of Ebonyi State condemn the wanton killlings recorded yesterday in a church in Anambra state.”
Senator Andy Uba condemned the shooting and killing of worshippers at the St. Philips Catholic Church.
In a statement by his media aide Joseph Itazi, Uba, who visited the scene said Anambra people were not known for such violence.
Uba urged the commissioner of police and the governor to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
“Such acts cannot be tolerated in Anambra: for worshippers to be slaughtered during mass is something that we must not allow in this state.
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige urged security agents to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.
His condolence message said: ” This killing, so dastardly and so wicked is a dangerous dimension which is very alien to our people and culture. I therefore call on the police and other relevant security agencies to leave no stone unturned in tracking down the murderers and bringing them to justice”.
