A civil society group, Igbo Ekunie Initiative (IEI), has condemned the killing of worshipers during a mass at St. Phillip’s Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, last week.

The group, comprising individuals in Nigeria and the Diaspora in a statement issued on Saturday by its President, Mazi Tochukwu Ezeoke, and Secretary, Lawrence Nwobu, frowned at what it described as the “senseless, gruesome and violent murder of innocent worshippers at Saint Philips Catholic church, Amakwa, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA, in Anambra state on Sunday the 6th of August 2017.”

It recalled that some armed men opened fire during theSundayservice at the church thereby killing some women, men and children and also inflicting grievous injuries on many worshipers in the church.

At the last count, the statement also pointed out, more than 12 persons had lost their lives and countless others were maimed with life threatening injuries while some are still battling for their lives at various hospitals.

“We mourn the death of our brothers and sisters and convey our most heartfelt condolences to the families concerned and pray that God should give them the fortitude to bear the immense losses occasioned by the shooting tragedy.

“We submit that every Nigerian is entitled to freedom of worship without molestation as enshrined under Article 38 of the Nigerian Constitution and nobody deserves to have his or her life abruptly cut short in such a violent manner and there is no justification for the cowardly and senseless attack on defenceless and law abiding citizens. The church is a solemn place of worship and should be seen and treated as a peaceful place to seek refuge.

“We find it very appalling and deplorable that such an attack was launched unchallenged and undetected in Anambra state which arguably is the state with the greatest number of security check points in Nigeria.”

The group also condemned what it viewed as the hasty and premature manner in “which the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, and the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Garba Umar, without any probe or detailed facts, tried to rationalise the brutal attack as a follow up to a drug feud from far away South Africa. Their ill-fated and ill-advised conclusion raised more questions than answers.”

Also, IEI rejected “in its totality all the rumours which are currently being peddled as the reason for the senseless attack and hereby call for a comprehensive investigation of the shooting with the aim of finding the immediate and remote causes of the attack, the motive for the killing and a complete disclosure of the names of the planners and perpetrators of the attack coupled with the proactive and credible steps to bring the persons to book.”

It further recommended that concrete steps should be taken to ensure that such a violent crime should not be carried out again in Anambra State in particular and Nigeria in general, noting that the state government and the Police are under public scrutiny as the world is eagerly waiting for the outcome of the investigations and accompanying punishment.