The attack by armed men on a Catholic church during mass killed at least 21 people, including children, in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday June 5, according to a first report released Monday morning by local authorities.
This attack, denounced as a “heinous murder of the faithful” by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has not been claimed, occurred during morning service at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo town, Ondo state (southwest) , usually spared by jihadists and criminal gangs active in other parts of the country.
“It is still early to say exactly how many people were killed. But many worshipers lost their lives while others were injured in the attack”State police spokeswoman Ibukun Odunlami told AFP.
“The pope learned of the attack [survenue] at the church in Ondo, Nigeria, and the death of dozens of worshippers, including many children, during the celebration of Pentecost”, responded the Vatican press service in a statement. “As the details of the incident are being clarified, Pope Francis prays for the victims and for the country, painfully affected during a moment of celebration, and entrusts them to the Lord, so that he sends his Spirit to comfort them”he added.
A witness, who gave only his first name, Abayomi, told AFP that at least 20 worshipers died in the attack. “I was passing through the neighborhood when I heard a loud explosion and gunshots inside the church“, he said. He said he saw at least five armed men inside the church before fleeing.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his statement called on security forces to find the attackers after the incident. “despicable and satanic attack”. According to the state police spokeswoman, they attacked the church with firearms and explosives.