Two dead as gunmen attack another church in southern Nigeria

One policeman and a civilian were killed after gunmen stormed the Assemblies of God Church in Anambra state in southeast Nigeria on Sunday.

According to an eyewitness, the gunmen momentarily stopped at the Assemblies of God Church on the Oguta road Onitsha, and opened fire on the policemen at the church.

"When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety," the witness told Nigerian news website Punch.

"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," the witness added.

Another witness stated that gunmen riding a motorcycle shot a policeman and took 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 second eyewitness said.

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, confirmed the incident to reporters, but he maintained that the shooting was not an attack on the church.

"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 said.

Umar also confirmed that the gunmen took away the rifle that belonged to the slain police officer.

The shooting came just seven days after gunmen attacked St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, killing at least 13 persons and injuring 27. Among the victims who died were nine women, a baby girl and two men, according to Ikenna Ofodeme, Transition Committee Chairman of Ekwusigo Council.

The commissioner told journalists on Aug. 7 that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the church attack in Ozubulu, but he said that the number of arrests will not be disclosed to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.

Umar said that the attack was an isolated case of a feud between two people from the same community, adding that some people who would be useful in the investigation have been contacted by the police.

On Aug. 12, a federal government delegation, led by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, visited Anambra to commiserate with the people on the Ozubulu shooting.

Ngige stated that the federal government would come up with a plan on how to secure places of worship in the country following the incessant attacks on churches.