Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate president and Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president have expressed deep sadness over the massacre which took place at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday, August 6, 2017.
In an e-mailed issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu, a special adviser to Senator Saraki, the senate president said killing of the worshippers represented “the purest kind of evil,” while asking security services not to stop until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“Today, my heart goes out to Nigeria’s Christian community, Governor Willie Obiano, the people of Anambra State and the families of the victims and the survivors of this terrible massacre,” Saraki said.
“This brutal act of attacking innocent and unsuspecting worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.
“Our security forces must not stop until everyone involved in the orchestration and execution of today’s massacre in St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Anambra, are brought to book by the strong arm of justice.
“The Senate will continue to offer any form of necessary assistance in this endeavor because today, all of us as Nigerians have been attacked by this senseless act committed by evil people.”
The senate president further urged security agencies in the country to step up their intelligence activities to prevent activities of criminals.
Ekweremadu, in a separate statement signed by a media aide, Uche Anichukwu, described the attack as “beastly and sacrilegious.”
While describing the day as a Black Sunday, the Deputy Senate President called on security agencies to fish out the killers and bring them to justice.
“I received with a deep grief the news of the blood-curdling killing at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, today. It is indeed a black Sunday and the act is most sacrilegious and condemnable,” Dr. Ekweremadu said.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the government and good people of Anambra, especially the bereaved families and the church. I also pray to God to grant the deceased a peaceful repose and the wounded a quick recovery.
“However, this dastardly act brings to the fore, once again, the need to reengineer our security system, especially our policing system to arrest the rising wave of violent crimes in the country.”
According to Ekweremadu, the least the nation owes the deceased and the casualties is to work with the security agencies “to apprehend the culprits and ensure that justice is done to both the living and the dead.”
