UNKNOWN GUNMEN ATTACKS ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH IN ONITISHA ANAMBRA STATE TODAY,KILLING MANY PEOPLE.{READ}.

                Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have shot and killed a police officer guarding Assemblies of God Church on the Oguta road Onitsha, Anambra State.

One person identified as an okada rider was also killed by the robbers, while a passenger said to be on the victim’s bike sustained gunshot wound and has been rushed to the hospital.

This incident is coming seven days after gunmen attacked St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu and killed no fewer than 13 persons and injured 27.

A resident of the area told pressmen 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.

“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.