Gunmen (file photo)

The Police have put the number of deaths from gunmen attack at the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra on Sunday morning at about 11.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar told Channels Television that preliminary investigations indicated eight worshippers who were shot dead inside the church were taken to one hospital while another three were confirmed dead later in another health facility. He did not give the figure of the injured.

The Police Commissioner who attributted the attack to communal infighting said the real target of the gunmen was a man who facilitated the building of the church. According to him, the father of the man was one of those killed in the attack.

He dismissed insinuations that the gunmen who carried out the attack were from outside the State.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the gunmen went into the church during the 5:45 a.m. mass and identified a particular man and shot him.

He said that they later went on rampage and shot at the remaining worshippers numbering over 100.

Scores of people were killed in the church while other critically injured worshippers died on the way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

The source, however, said the priest of the church was not wounded in the incident.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, confirmed the incidence, adding that more details would be given after investigations.

Willie Obiano, governor of the state has visited the scene of the attack.

(NAN)