Fear of reprisal attack grips Ozubulu Community

Fear of reprisal attack grips Ozubulu
community

- Some residents of Ozubulu community express fear
that a gang war could further endanger their lives
following the attack on the St Philip’s Catholic
Church
- An indigene of the community, Mr Calistus
Ndukamma, says residents of the community have
been living in fear since the attack on the church
- Chairman of Ekwusigo local government area,
Ikenna Ofodeme, disagrees with the narrative that
the killing was motivated by a feud between two
drug lords
Residents of Ozubulu community where a gunman
killed scores of worshippers at the St Philip’s Catholic
church have expressed fears that opposing gangs might
retaliate over the killing of their relatives.
Police make arrest in Ozubulu church
attack
Speaking with This Day newspaper, some community
residents said such a gang war could further endanger
their lives.
An indigene of the community, Mr Calistus Ndukamma,
who lives close to the church premises where the
shooting occurred said residents of the community
were still in shock and had been living in fear
following the attack.
He said: “ Those who witnessed what happened yesterday
are still in shock, and we are still living in fear. Do you
know that if you throw a knockout here, people will take
to their heels?"
On his part, the chairman of Ekwusigo local
government area, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme, disagreed with
the narrative that the killing was motivated by a feud
between two drug lords.
The council boss said the suspected drug lord, Mr
Aloysius Ikegwuonu, who was the alleged target of the
gunman left the community a day before the attack
occurred.
He said: “Ikegwuonu was here, and for two days he
played football with youths in the community and even
gave out football boots to people. If it was he they
needed, they would have come then and taken him.
“What I can say is that there may be a political
undertone to this attack. Why is it coming now that
election is coming? Remember that security is the
biggest achievement of our governor and some
politicians may be seeking to discredit him by doing
this.
“I believe that in the fullness of time the true story will
be unveiled. The police are working and I believe they
can do it. Saying that drug barons did this or did that
is wrong because if it is true, then the police will just
work on that, but it is not true."
Meanwhile, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has finally
broken his silence a day after gunmen attacked the
Catholic Church at Ozubulu, Anambra state reportedly
killing many worshippers.
The Nigerian Police Force had announced that the
attack was the result of a dr*g war that has existed for
about three years and which reportedly started in
South Africa.
Osinbajo, who condoled with family members of the
deceased, said he had been receiving briefings
concerning investigations into the crime.
He declared that the perpetrators must be made to face
the consequence of their crime which was committed
on Sunday, August 6.