Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

REPORT: At Least 12 Dead After Shooting at Church Service in Nigeria

Photo Credit: Channels TV, via Reuters
Photo Credit: Channels TV, via Reuters
Share Tweet
By Meg Storm
Writer

August 8, 2017

Violence against Christians in the Middle East and Africa continues to rear its ugly head.

The Vatican and local authorities have confirmed that at least a dozen people were killed and 18 others wounded after a mass shooting at a Roman Catholic church in Nigeria over the weekend. In a message to Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of Nnewi, Pope Francis was said to be “deeply saddened” by the attack at the Church of St. Philip in the town of Ozubulu, invoking “the divine blessings of consolation and strength” upon the diocese of Nnewi.

READ: US Government FINALLY Does Something to Help Persecuted Christians in the Middle East

As the New York Times reported, authorities believe the gunmen drove up to the church around 6am on Sunday, marched in toward the altar, and opened fire. Congregants allegedly attempted to flee, but the gunmen blacked the exits.

It is believed that the father of a wealthy local mogul, Aloysius Ikegwuonu, who had helped build the church was among those killed. While it is unclear how Ikegwuonu made his money, there is ongoing concern in the country over the powerful hold drug dealers exert due to their generous donations to local political and religious figures.

With that in mind, police were quick to discredit rumors that the incident involved the drug lords or “gang wars.” It remains unclear, however, if terrorist organizations like Boko Haram or its militant faction, Niger Delta Avengers, was responsible.

Concerned citizens in Nigeria used the tragedy to once again warn against the growing influence of nefarious people and organizations in both the church and state. Activist Adeola Soetan shared his fear that some leaders “worship money irrespective of where it comes from and have now become part of the alliance of evil.”

On Monday, Bishop Okeke had no comment about Ikegwuonu or his role in financing the church, but he did celebrate a Mass in honor of the deceased. Additionally, the governor, Mr. Obiano, declared a day of mourning, and, according to the Times, Obiano had received condolence calls from the nation’s president and vice president. Other officials publicly condemned the cowardly attack on a place of worship, with the Nigerian Labour Congress releasing a formal statement:

“Whatever may have been the situation, this attack represents a descent into the pit of hell,” it read. “It is animalistic, cowardly and shameful.”

Latest

  • Faith

    Spiritual Warfare and Miracles: JP Pokluda’s Revelations About the Supernatural

  • Faith

    Persecution Watchdog Responds to Whoopi Goldberg’s America-Iran Comparison

  • Faith

    Should Public School Teachers Lead Prayer in Jesus’ Name? Americans Make Their Stance Clear

  • Faith

    ‘God’s Definitely Real’: Cross Necklace Saves Man’s Life After He Was Shot in the Chest

  • Faith

    ‘Dangerous Ideology’: Christian Summer Camp Takes Gender Stand, Scores Major Victory


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • Spiritual Warfare and Miracles: JP Pokluda’s Revelations About the Supernatural
  • Persecution Watchdog Responds to Whoopi Goldberg’s America-Iran Comparison
  • Should Public School Teachers Lead Prayer in Jesus’ Name? Americans Make Their Stance Clear
  • ‘God’s Definitely Real’: Cross Necklace Saves Man’s Life After He Was Shot in the Chest
  • ‘Dangerous Ideology’: Christian Summer Camp Takes Gender Stand, Scores Major Victory

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.