Osinbajo Sends Delegation to Anambra, Orders Security Agencies to Fish out Killers
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday sent a five-man federal government delegation to Anambra State to condole with the government and people of the state over last Sunday’s killing at St. Philips Catholic Church in Ofufe-Amakwa, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State.
He also ordered security operatives to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book.
The attack resulted in the loss of a number of lives and injuries to several others.
In the delegation were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril; and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said on arrival, the delegation would present a condolence letter from the acting president on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria to Governor Willie Obiano.
He also said the delegation would visit Bishop Hillary Okeke of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, also in Nnewi, to meet with some of the victims of the attack still in the hospital.
According to him, Osinbajo sent deep condolences to the families, friends of the victims, and the entire Ozubulu community on the death of their sons and daughters and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured who are still in the hospital.
The statement added that the acting president condemned in very strong terms what he described as the atrocious and dastardly act which has brought sorrow to many innocent families and, has rightly provoked widespread condemnation.
“Such barbaric act constitutes an affront to our common humanity, and it challenges, but will not overwhelm our collective resolve to rid our communities of all forms of violent crimes and criminality,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying.
“Professor Osinbajo said the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari remains undeterred and will continually commit to deploying all available resources towards ensuring adequate security of lives and property in Anambra State and across the entire coun- try.
“The Acting President noted that he has instructed law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice without any delay.
“He said he would remain engaged with Governor Obiano, the Police authorities and other security agencies to ensure that the lives and property of citizens of Anambra State and indeed all Nigerians are well protected anywhere they may live,” the statement added.
In a related development, the federal government has promised to beef up security in all the churches in the South East to forestall further attacks on churches.
Ngige stated this yesterday when he led a delegation from the federal government to Ozubulu community in Anambra State, scene of the killing of about 13 worshippers by a gunman last Sunday.