At least 16 worshippers killed in New Year church attack in Nigeria

Unidentified gunmen have killed at least 16 people who had attended a New Year's Day church service in southern Nigeria, a local official said.

Local police told the BBC that the 16 worshippers had attended a midnight service before the assailants ambushed them. The incident took place in the early hours of Monday in the town of Omuku in the oil-rich region of Rivers state.

Local government official Osi Olisa noted that the gunmen also shot people on the road before escaping.

Some reports have indicated that the number of casualties was 14, while others claimed that it was 17. The Nigerian Independent reported that a total of 26 people were shot in the attack. Fourteen victims died on the spot while 12 were sent to a hospital.

The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the attack but said that he cannot confirm the number of casualties.

"The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operation and other tactical heads have been mobilised there to restore peace," Omoni said.

"The Commissioner of Police (Ahmed Zaki) has launched a manhunt for the bandits to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted. When the DCP and the teams there conclude we will know the total number of people involved," he added.

Other reports noted that the noise of the fireworks that greeted the New Year celebrations made it difficult for residents to realize that shots were being fired at people.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it has been linked to the growing tensions between rival gangs, also known as "cults," in the region.

Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, noted that cult-related killings were commonplace in the area because of the support of powerful politicians.

"My heart goes to the people of [the local area] and the immediate families of the deceased. This is an act that must be condemned. The good people of Omoku have suffered enough and this has dealt a further blow on their sufferings," Peterside said.

In November, local defense groups and security officials shot dead the leader of an armed group that is believed to be behind the kidnappings and killings in the area.

Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region has been plagued by attacks from militant groups who take up arms against multinational companies to demand a share of the oil proceeds.

Omoku, which is about 85 kilometers (50 miles) from the state capital Port Harcourt, has seen an increase in violent crimes in the past year after a government amnesty program for former gang members was allowed to lapse.