Pope Condoles, Prays for Victims of Ozubulu Killings

Pope Francis
The Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis has offered prayers for, and also commiserated with the Nnewi catholic diocese as well as victims of last Sunday attack at st Philip Catholic Church Ozubulu, Anambra State.
According to information obtained from the Catholic News Agency , the pope in the telegram message dated August 7 and addressed to Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of Nnewi, the Pope noted that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury following the violent attack in Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu.”

The Pope extended his “heartfelt condolences to you and to all the faithful of the Diocese of Nnewi, in particular the families of the deceased and all those affected by this tragedy,” and offered blessings of “consolation and strength” upon the entire diocese.

The telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, came after gunmen stormed St Philip’s Catholic Church in the city of Ozubulu early Sunday morning, killing at least 11 people and wounding 18 more.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. According to BBC News, local terror group Boko Haram, which has burned hundreds of churches and killed thousands during its more than decade-long insurgency in the country’s north-eastern region, was not involved.

Rather, the attack is believed to have been the result of either a private feud or drug-trafficking.

Reports conflict as to whether there were one or two gunmen involved, however, police have begun a manhunt in the area in the hopes of finding those responsible.