After a bloody attack at a Catholic Church in southern Nigeria left 11 dead and several more wounded, Pope Francis conveyed his sympathy to the victims and their families, assuring the community of his prayer.
In an Aug. 7 telegram addressed to Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of Nnewi, Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury following the violent attack in Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu.”
The Pope extended his “heartfelt condolences to you and to all the faithful of the Diocese of Nnewi, in particular the families of the deceased and all those affected by this tragedy,” and offered blessings of “consolation and strength” upon the entire diocese.
The telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, came after gunmen stormed St Philip's Catholic Church in the city of Ozubulu early Sunday morning, killing at least 11 people and wounding 18 more.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to BBC News, local terror group Boko Haram, which has burned hundreds of churches and killed thousands during its more than decade-long insurgency in the country's north-eastern region, was not involved.
Rather, the attack is believed to have been the result of either a private feud or drug-trafficking.Reports conflict as to whether there were one or two gunmen involved, however, police have begun a manhunt in the area in the hopes of finding those responsible.
The Police have apprehended some suspects allegedly involved in the killing of 12 people at the St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu area of Anambra State.
The state governor, Willie Obiano, who visited the scene of the attack had promised that investigations would commence immediately to bring the perpetrators to book.
Giving an account of the incident on Sunday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, told Channels Television that the gunmen went into the church during an early morning mass and shot sporadically at worshippers.
He further explained that the attack was not unconnected to what he described as gang violence between some indigenes of the state.
“Information further revealed that this is not unconnected to a kind of a ‘gang war’ between indigenes of the state – the children of the same village – who are engaged in a warfare outside Nigeria, precisely in South Africa”.
According to him, many people were injured in the attack while some of the victims died on their way to the hospital.
Reacting to the incident, the President, Muhammadu Buhari also condemned the attack, describing it as an unspeakable sacrilege.
Expressing his grief in a strongly worded statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said that “there was no justification whatsoever to target church worshippers and kill them in cold blood.
He, however, reassured Nigerians of his administration’s firm and uncompromising commitment to protecting their lives and property at all times.
Meanwhile, Monday has been set aside as a day of mourning for the victims even as more Nigerians have come out to condemn the act.
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