Nigeria Violence: Gunmen Storm Church, Kill 19 Worshipers

08/07/2012
By YINKA IBUKUN

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Gunmen fired on a worship service in a church in central Nigeria, killing at least 19 people — including the pastor — and wounding others in a nation often divided by religion, the military said Tuesday.

The attack targeted a Deeper Life church in the town of Otite in Kogi state, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Nigeria's capital Abuja. Blood stained the floors of the church as police and soldiers surrounded it Tuesday morning, witnesses said. It was unclear how many people were wounded in the attack Monday night.

The gunmen surrounded the church in the middle of a worship service and opened fire with Kalashnikov assault rifles, military spokesman Lt. Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi said. The church's pastor was among the dead. the rest

Mark, Anglican Primate, others condemn attack
...The Primate of the Anglican Church, Reverend Nicholas Okoh, condemned the attack.
Reverend Okoh who spoke with journalists in Abuja said securing places of worship should not be left in the hands of the church alone.
He called on government to expedite action to secure the lives of its citizenry...

Nigerian Christians vent frustration after another church attack