Ozubulu Killings: Igbo Ekunie Condemns Massacre, Describes It As “Senseless”

A Youth Organization In Igboland, the Igbo Ekunie Initiative, IEI, has condemned in strong terms the massacre of worshippers at a catholic church in Ozubulu, Anambra State by unknown gunmen.

The Igbo Ekunie Initiative, IEI, comprising individuals in Nigeria and the Diaspora, described the sad event as senseless and ill-timed.

It said the incident was worrisome as the said assailants killed innocent souls as the IEI also commiserated with families of the departed souls.

The IEI also prayed for the quick recovery of the injured worshippers in the ugly incident.

A statement jointly signed by the President Igbo Ekunie Initiative, Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke and the Secretary, Lawrence Nwobu however condemned the manner with which the incident was traced to a deug feud in far away South Africa describing it as “mere rumour.”

The statement said in part “We mourn the death of our brothers and sisters and convey our most heartfelt sympathy 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 able to be launched unchallenged and undetected in Anambra state which arguably is the state with the greatest number of security check points in Nigeria.”

The Igbo Ekunie Initiative IEI continued “We condemn the hasty and premature manner over which the governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano and the Anambra state Commissioner of Police Alhaji Garba Umar, without any probe or detailed facts, tried to rationalize the brutal attack as a follow up of a drug feud from far away South Africa. Their ill-fated and ill-advised conclusion raised more questions than answers.”

“We reject 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 incident 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.  Concrete steps should also be taken to ensure that such a violent crime should not be carried out again in Anambra state in particular and Nigeria in general.”

“We conclude by 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. Finally, we call for a speedy and ground breaking investigation to unravel the mystery behind the senseless killing.”