The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has declared today as a day of mourning in honour of the 11 worshippers, who were gunned down on Sunday morning by a gunman at the St. Phillips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State.
In a short message circulated through the churches and other religious leaders in the state yesterday evening, Governor Obiano urged Anambra indigenes at home and in the Diaspora to hold a special prayer for thepeaceful repose of the souls of the dead and the speedy recovery of the wounded and to observe a minute of silence at exactly 12 noon today in honour of the dead.
The governor also requested his compatriots to dress in predominantly dark colours to reflect the mournful mood of the state.
The message reads: “The gruesome murder of our brothers and sisters who went to early morning Mass today (yesterday) to worship their God by a gunman has touched the heart and soul of my administration and woken our humanity. I enjoin Ndi Anambra at home and in the Diaspora to unite with all the families who lost their loved ones in these senseless killings to observe a minute of silence in honour of the victims of this mass murder. I plead with all the leaders of the church, irrespective of denomination and other religious bodies and groups, to alert their members and hold special prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the dead and a speedy recovery of the wounded.
“I also urge them to ensure that every church bell in Anambra State will toll at the stroke of 12 noon, tomorrow, Monday, August 7, 2017. And to reflect our collective sorrowful mood, I urge Ndi Anambra to wear predominantly dark colours on the said day in honour of the dead. A condolence register has been opened in the Government House for people who wish to send soothing messages to the bereaved families and the Government and People of Anambra State. ”
A lone gunman had strode into St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, during the 6am Mass on Sunday and sprayed bullets on some members of the congregation, in what the Anambra State Police Command has described as revenge killings over a quarrel between two indigenes of the town who live outside Nigeria.
Speaking to Government House correspondents earlier today, Governor Obiano assured the people that the watertight security the state had enjoyed in the past three years was still intact since the nature of the Ozubulu killings was very well known to the police.
He further gave assurance that his administration would do everything within its power to fish out all the people behind the killings and bring justice and closure to bear on the matter.
Investigations on the killings are in top gear, with a manhunt for the gunman in full force.
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