Nigeria: 12 people killed in church shooting in Anambra August 6

Event

At least 12 people were killed after a group of unidentified gunmen stormed a Catholic church in Anambra on August 6 at around 05:45 (local time). Witnesses claimed that five masked assailants were involved in the massacre, however, the State Police Commissioner stated that the incident was caused by a lone gunman. Security personnel cordoned off the area and have launched an investigation into the incident. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident, although the Boko Haram terrorist group is suspected.

Increased security measures are likely to be implemented at churches throughout the state.

Context

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of the Islamic State in West Africa. Attacks in the southeast, where Anambra is located, are far rarer.

Public venues (markets, places of worship, schools, bars, areas where broadcasts of sports competitions are displayed, etc.) as well as security forces and governmental buildings are frequently struck by attacks, suicide bombings (targeted or untargeted), and kidnappings (regularly followed by assassination and targeting primarily foreign nationals).

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas