Eight killed in shooting at Nigerian church

OZUBULU, Nigeria (UPI) — At least 11 people died in a shooting Sunday at a church in southern Nigeria apparently by a lone gunman, police said.

Another 18 worshipers were wounded in the attack at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Ozubulu near the city of Onitsha in the state of Anambra, the Police Command in Awka said in a post on Facebook.

Initially, witnesses said the attack was carried out by gunmen at 5:45 a.m., but police now say it likely was carried out by one man, the Premium Times in Nigeria reported.

Garba Umar, commissioner of police in the state, said a “preliminary investigation shows that the incident is as a result of a feud between two individuals who are from the community but who live outside Nigeria.”

Umar said the shooting related to an argument between Nigerians from Ozubulu who live abroad, including one who built the church in which the attack occurred.

“A gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire,” Umar said. “The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshipers.”

Umar said the attack was not linked to Boko Haram and “definitely not a terrorist act.”

Written by UPI Writer Allen Cone

United Press International

+ postsBio

United Press International is an international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the 20th century.

This author does not have any more posts.