A Muslim group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have posited why the attack happened in the first place.
The group in a statement by its President Professor Ishaq Akintola, decried the act saying that it was barbaric and uncalled for.
The statement reads; “Unidentified gunmen yesterday invaded St Philip’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state. According to reports, about 35 worshippers were killed in the attack while scores of others were injured.
“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) denounces this wanton massacre of innocent people. It is heartless, ungodly and barbaric. In particular, we condemn the attack on the Catholic church because places of worship do not belong to the builders. They belong to God. Any attack on a place of worship is therefore an affront against God. No homo sapien has the right to extend hostilities to the house of God.”
Professor Akintola continued, “The speculation that the attack was an extension of a drug war is therefore not acceptable as an excuse for this most criminal and inhuman attack. What of the lives of several worshippers that were wasted? What was their own offence? The invaders allegedly came with the intention of squaring up with Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a notable businessman from Amakwa who built and donated the church to Nnewi Diocese. They killed their target’s father, Pa Ikegwuonu, and shot his mother in the arm.
“MURIC charges Nigerian security agencies to unveil the killers with lightning speed. We urge people in the neighbouring communities to supply useful information on this tragic incident to the security agencies. We also advise Nigerians to be security conscious at all times because insecurity is a constant threat to economic growth and prosperity.”