Deadly church attack in central Nigeria

Tuesday, 07 August 2012 00:36

Written by aljazeera.net

Gunmen have shot dead at least 19 people in a church in central Nigeria, an army official has said.

Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Olorunyomi told the AP news agency on Tuesday that the armed men had stormed a church building where worshippers had gathered to pray late on Monday in the town of Otite, near the city of Okene.

He said the pastor was killed and "many" were injured but he could not immediately give a figure because they had been taken to different hospitals.

Authorities are still searching for people who may have run into nearby bushes, he said.

Olorunyomi declined to say who was behind the attack.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the shootings.