It was a tragic Christmas Eve in Ebonyi State after unknown gunmen stormed the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Nkweagu village in Abakaliki county during a vigil mass on Sunday night, killing three persons.
The attack was confirmed by the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Most Reverend Peter Nworie-Chukwu during the Christmas service at Saint Theresa Cathedral Church, Abakaliki on Monday.
According to the priest, the gunmen arrived at the church in a tricycle, commonly called Keke, at exactly 11:30 p.m. and gunned down a worshipper in what many eyewitnesses believe to be an assassination.
As the assassins were about to flee, two security guards blocked them, requesting the gate pass issued to them on entering the church premises earlier; and the guards were shot dead too.
The assassins subsequently took to their heels on foot, abandoning the tricycle and the fully loaded guns inside it as the tricycle failed to start.
“This is the first time such an incident has happened in the church and in Ebonyi State in general,” added Bishop Nworie-Chukwu.
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