More facts have emerged about the invasion, this morning by troops, of a Catholic Church in Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State.

News Express, while breaking the story, had reported that the invasion was said to have taken place early this morning as people were participating in Mass.

Latest reports from the area, however, said that the invasion started past midnight and that some of the dead were shot and killed in their sleep.

A source who spoke with News Express said: “The victims were members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who gathered to commemorate the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by the late Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on May 30, 1967.

“The date is now regarded as Igbo Day and is used to honour living and fallen Biafran heroes for their services to Igboland.

“The event is billed to start at 12 noon but from around 1am the joint security task force locally known as Obiano Police invaded the church where many of the MASSOB and IPOB members who arrived in advance for the ceremony were sleeping and started shooting. At least 10 people have been reported killed and a lot of people injured.”

The Nigerian military is yet to comment on the incident.

•Photo shows Biafra flag.