Nigeria church attack - at least eight killed in shooting spree

They went to Church on a early Sunday morning to worship their God but only for tragedy to struck when a gun man storm and attacked worshipers at a Catholic church in Ozubulu near the city of Onitsha, Anambra, State, Nigeria killing at least eight people and injuring at least 18 others, an attack report say was rooted in local dispute.

There were conflicting reports over whether the attack was carried out by a lone gunman or a group of attackers, but police say it likely was carried out by one man and though the exact numbers remain elusive, but the Nigerian media reported that “tens” of people, perhaps as many as 50-100, were either killed or injured in the shooting spree that broke out a Catholic Church during the 6:00am mass.

One account gave the toll as eight killed and 18 injured, although other reports put the number of dead much higher.

Police sources say the incident was not carried out by the radical Islamic group Boko Haram, but was instead rooted in a local dispute. 

According to the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Garba Umar, the shooting is related to an argument between Nigerians from Ozubulu who live abroad, including one who built the church in which the attack occurred.

A gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire," Umar said.

The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshipers.

The attack had been carried out by someone from the local community, he added.

One witness Chukwuma Emeka told AFP news agency that he had just stepped out of the church to stretch his legs "when I heard gunshots and screaming and people running inside."

"When the chaos subsided I went inside, I saw my fellow church members dead in a pool of their own blood and many others were screaming in pain."