Anambra shooting: Police ‘arrest’ suspects

The Anambra state police command says it has arrested suspects involved in the killings at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Ozubulu.

Nkeiruka Nwode, spokesman of the command, confirmed this to TheCable on Monday.

She said the suspects, whose identities she refused to reveal, were arrested on Monday.

“This is a very sensitive investigation so you people (journalists) have to help us,” she told TheCable.

“As soon as the investigation is concluded, we will let the public know. But as far as I’m concerned, it definitely has nothing to do with terrorists. It’s just a conflict between individuals.”

An unidentified gunman had invaded the church during the 6:30 am mass, killing at least 12 people.

Eighteen others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

The gunman was believed to have invaded the church in search of Aloysius Ikegwuonwu, an indigene of the area, who is based in South Africa.

Garba Umar, the state commissioner of police, had said the attacker spoke in Igbo dialect while shooting the worshippers.

Umar said the attack was carried out by a native of the area.

“From our findings, it is very clear that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area,” he had said.