Gunmen
on Sunday struck at the Assemblies of God Church on the Oguta road
Onitsha, Anambra State killing one policeman and a civilian.
This
is coming seven days after gunmen attacked St Philips Catholic Church,
Ozubulu and killed no fewer than 13 persons and injured 27.
An
eyewitness account told our correspondent that the gunmen had
momentarily stopped at the Assemblies of God Church, but on sighting
some policemen at the church, opened fire on them.
“When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety.
READ MORE AFTER THE CUT......................................
“The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed.
“I saw two of the gunmen but I can’t say how many they are in number.
Another
eyewitness said, “Gunmen on Okada (motorcycle) shot a policeman and
collected his rifle. They also shot dead an Okada man while escaping,
and the passenger he was carrying was injured. The policeman was the one
armed among his colleagues; they were providing security while church
service was going on at Assemblies of God Church, Oguta road Onitsha.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar confirmed the incident to journalists.
He
said it was not an attack on the church, adding “My men were on patrol
near the church when they were attacked by some gunmen. It was not an
attack on the church, in the real sense of it”.
The commissioner confirmed that the hoodlums took away a rifle belonging to the slain cop.
The
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige had on Saturday said
the Federal Government would work out modalities on how to secure places
of worship in the country.
Leading a federal government
delegation to commiserate with the people of Anambra State on the
Ozubulu shooting, Ngige said that had become expedient following
incessant attacks on places of worship.
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