Ozubulu Massacre: Catholic Church Releases Names Of Victims

Following the tragedy that befell St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu last Sunday, the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi on Wednesday released the names of victims who died in the attack as well as those of victims that sustained various degrees of injuries.

Trouble started when the gunmen rode into the church in a Lexus SUV during a 6.30 am Mass and one of them entered the church and shot at close range to an elderly man, later identified as Aloysius Ikegwuonu, while his wife was shot on the right arm, others remained in the vehicle outside providing the needed exit cover for the sniper.

An eye-witness stated that after killing Ikegwuonu, the gunman shot at the ceiling and opened fire on other worshippers who scampered for safety in different direction It was also disclosed that late Ikegwuonu is the father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a businessman from Amakwa, who built and donated the church to Nnewi Diocese and his son may have been involved in an unfinished business transactions with the assailant.

According to sources, the gunmen were looking for his son, Aloysius, who was said to have returned to the village on Saturday and zoomed off same day but the assailant felt he slept over in the village and perhaps in the church as his car was used by late Ikegwuonu for the early Sunday mass.

But the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi in a statement signed by Bishop Hilary Odili Okeke, bishop of the diocese, disclosed that the death toll in the attack has risen to 13.

Soliciting for funds to assist the victims, the diocese said it has opened a bank account in that regards and encouraged Catholics to contribute to the fund. The statement reads in part, “Anybody, parish, institution, company, society, association or group that would like to join the diocese in providing assistance to the victims and their families can send their contributions.

“We shall keep accurate records of contribution and distribution of the funds.”

The diocese also gave the names of the 22 surviving victims as:

• Ikegwuonu Caroline
  Nwakile Anthonia
  Okoye Odinaka
  Okoye Patricia
  Isaac Chinedu
  Oramadike Chinagorom
  Oramadike Chinecherem
  Udegbunam Chidimma
  Ndulue Samuel
  Udegbunam Obiageli
  Ugochi Obiajulu
  Chukwueloka Chineze
  Oramadike Chioma
  Azuka Basil
  Oramadike Chiamaka
  Uchechukwu Chukwueloka
  Nwanya Ngozi
  Ngwuta Chinemelum
  Asomba Chukwudum
  Nnudule Leonard
  Muomah Michael
  Oramadike Favour.

The diocese further disclosed that two of the injured victims have been discharged while others are in different wards in the hospital.

The statement named the dead as:

• Cyprian Ikegwuonu
  Hyacinth Oramadike
  Cecilia Ewin
  Eunice Akanigbo
  Rose Okoye
  Anulika Obunadike
  Uchenna Obunadike
  Anthonia Ufondu
  Oluchukwu Uhelu
  Christiana Igbeja
  Udeze Pauline
  Victoria Uzokwe
  Florence Nweke.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has stated that the state government will not rest until those responsible for the dastardly act are apprehended dead or alive.

He also stated that the killing cannot pass as terrorism or ethnic agitation but violence between two persons with common business interest.

He said, “Ozubulu killing is not the kind of terrorism done by Boko Haram, it is not from people agitating for separation. Ozubulu killing is a feud between two gangsters that started somewhere outside Nigeria, and they fought themselves over here. Both of them are from that village. Very soon, am very confident that we are going to pick up the guy that did that thing dead or alive.”