The Federal government of Nigeria has promised to help victims of the attack on a catholic church in Anambra state last Sunday, and to also beef up security in all the churches in the South East to forestall further attacks on churches.
The minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige stated this yesterday when he led a delegation from the federal government to Ozubulu community in Anambra State, scene of the killing of about 13 worshippers by a gunman last Sunday.
Ngige who led four other ministers; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril; and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah first met the state deputy governor, Dr Nkem Okeke who also joined the delegation.
Ngige said the federal government will make adequate arrangement for security around churches in the Southeast, and has also sworn to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime were brought to book.
“The federal government has asked security agencies in the state to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book, and we will be happy to give them assistance from the federal government if need be.
“We are in Anambra to console the people of the state over the incident, and to convey the deep sadness of the President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari who had earlier called to condole with the people of the state. The acting president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo thought it wise to send this delegation here, and has also written a letter to the console you.”
The delegation which moved from the office of the deputy governor was also at the home of the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev Dr Hillary Okeke and also made a flag stop at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where the delegation was conducted round the various wards where some of the victims of the attack were being taken care of.
At St Phillip’s Catholic Church, scene of the unfortunate shooting last Sunday, the delegation was welcome by the parish priest of the church, Rev Fr Jude Onwuasor who gave a first hand account of how the incident happened.
Onwuasor reacting to questions from the ministers said it was not true that the gunman used torchlight to identify worshippers before shooting. He said that gunman simply stood at the entrance of the church and shot sporadically inside the church.
Meanwhile, bishop of Nnewi who received the delegation described the incident as terrible, saying the church had celebrated a special mass in the place for the perpetrators of the crime to repent.
He said, “For us in the church, we are not talking about apprehending the perpetrators, we are talking about the repentance of those who did it. The government can go ahead and fish them out, but for us, our major aim is for them to repent.”
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