Some residents and people of Anambra have condemned the killing of worshippers early on Sunday morning at St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu community.
The Police Commissioner in Anambra, Mr Garba Umar, had confirmed that eight persons died and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack.
The residents, in separate interviews in Awka, described the attack as “heinous, unjustifiable and totally unwarranted”.
Chief Osita Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, said he was saddened by the incident. He decried the desecration of the temple of God, adding that nobody attacked anyone in the church even during war times.
“This is tragic; the church is a place of refuge to anyone who runs into it, and this wicked, barbaric and mindless bloodletting, shows that something has gone wrong on our psyche.
“My heart goes to the bereaved at this moment of pain. I pray that God grants the soul of the departed eternal rest as I urge the security agents to fish out the perpetrators and make them face the law,” he said.
On his part, Mr Oseloka Obaze, a former Secretary to Anambra Government, said such callous attacks dehumanised the society.
“Our heart goes to the family and parishioners of St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, where unidentified gunmen reportedly killed several church members and wounded several others early today.
‘’Such violent incidents dehumanise our society.”
In his reaction, Dr Victor Oye, the National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said that no amount of provocation could justify the killing of innocent people who had gone to worship in a Church.
Oye, who described the attack as wicked, urged the security agencies to unravel those responsible for the dastardly act.
“As a political leader, I totally condemn the Ozubulu Church shooting as dastardly, unjustifiable and callous.
“Nobody has the right to kill innocent citizens. The Police and other relevant security agencies should ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are caught and made to face justice,” he said.
Chief Jude Emecheta, who hails from Ozubulu, said: “a dark cloud has befallen my peaceful town”.
NAN