Chidi Samuel || Two people including a police officer were believed killed when armed men struck near the Assemblies of God Church near Oguiyi, Road Onitsha, Anambra State.
Sunday’s attack came exactly one week after many people were killed and several others injured by gunmen while attending service at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in the same State.
Early reports suggest that the gunmen were armed robbers who had been in the process of staging a raid when they sighted the police patrol.
They reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing one of the policemen and a commercial motorcyclist.
A member of the Church who did not want his name mentioned, however, confirmed that no one within the church premises was involved in the incident as gunshots were heard only outside the premises.
Mr. Garba Umar, Anambra State commissioner of Police while confirming the incident, said the attack was not aimed at the church.
He said, “At about 10:30 hours, men who were in masquerade form, who put on masquerade attacked our Police team on patrol. They fired at them and critically injured one, Members of the team reacted swiftly, pursued them and apprehended one of them. Effort I son to ensure that the other members of the gang will sooner than later be apprehended. I want to make it clear, going by the report that is emanating from one of the dailies that a church at Onitsha was attacked, I want to make it clear that this was not an attack on the church it was an attack on our men on routine patrol.”