Ozubulu church killing: Two South African prisoners fingered

The Anambra Police Command has fingered two Nigerian born South African prisoners in the killing of worshippers at St Philip's Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of  Anambra State three months ago. 

Disclosing this to journalists in a press conference at the state command in Amawbia, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Baba Umar, said that Interpol was already involve in the investigations and are trying to extradite the suspects  to Nigeria.

Umar gave the names of the suspects as Prince Charles Obi, a.k.a Gozila and Dickson Nwodi a.k.a Afam. He said that other suspects in the killing, who had been in police custody since their arrest,  would be arraigned this week.

The CP's statement reads in part: "Two  indigenes of Anambra State from Nnobi and Oba local government areas respectively, currently serving prison terms in South Africa for murder, have taken responsibility for the Ozubulu church, attack. 

"They vowed that there will be more attacks if their financial demands for undisclosed reasons made of certain persons are not met.  They mandated one Quintus Anayo (alias Obasanjo) based in South Africa to come to Ozubulu and inform the elders of the town of this threat. 

"The two  prisoners in South Africa are; Prince Charles Obi,  aka  and Gozila  Dickson Nwodi aka Afam.  The Command wishes to state categorically, that we will ensure that all identified perpetrators are brought to book. 

On that strength, three  of the suspects in custody are to be arraigned within this week on charges of Conspiracy and murder with other suspects at large.

"The INTERPOL is already involved in the investigation and possible extradition of the suspects based in South Africa, who claimed responsibility for the attack on the Church.”

He assured members of the public that no one direct or indirectly involved in the senseless killing would go free.

The CP, while praising members of the public for their support, solicited for the mutual efforts of everyone within and in the Diaspora to provide credible information that would lead to successful conclusion and prosecution of the case.

Making reference to  Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a.k.a Bishop, who was then linked to the shooting, Umar said: “Bishop was only a victim in the whole saga. If the killers had seen him on the day of the attack,  they would have killed him too."