A gunman has invaded a Catholic Church during a morning mass in Anambra state, killing eight of the worshippers.

The gunman who invaded the service at Saint Phillip Catholic Church, Ozubulu at 5.45 am, also injured 18 others.

The gunman, according to the state police commissioner, Garba Umar, who wore black attire after invading the church while the mass was on, moved to a section of the congregation and opened gunfire on them.

After killing his target and others in the section, he shot sporadically on other worshippers in the church.

The police chief said that preliminary investigation revealed that the attack was caused by a dispute between two natives of the town residing abroad, and quickly dismissed speculation that it was the handiwork of Boko Haram sect.

From our findings, it is very clear that the person who carried the attack must be an indigene of the area.

Blood trail at the door of the church

“We gathered that worshippers for 6 o’clock Sunday mass at St. Philip Ozobulu were in the service when a gunman dressed in black attire covering his face with a cap entered the church and moved straight to a particular direction and opened fire.

“The man after shooting at his targeted victims still went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding other worshippers,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Wille Obiano had rushed to the scene of the attack, confirming that the attack was due to a dispute between two brothers in the town.

During a visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital where those injured were being treated, the governor said the state government will pick the bills.