* Kill, injure several worshippers
Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Sunday, attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owaluwa area of Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing several worshippers, and injuring others.
Reports say the armed men, who invaded the church in Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s home town, struck during the peak of the Mass, shooting sporadically into the church while some stationed at the entrance to prevent worshippers from feeling the scene of the massacre.
An unnamed eyewitness explained that the congregation was caught unawares when the hoodlums started shooting, saying people were running helter-skelter to avoid being shot, adding that the gunmen threw dynamites into the Church, which exploded on the altar.
He said the Church was filled to capacity, adding that the shooting resulted in the death of no fewer than 50 persons, with several others injured in the attack.
As a result, blood stains were seen on the floor of the Church as corpses and the injured were said to have been moved to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo. Some corpses were said to have been deposited at a private hospital.
One of the priests of the Church, Rev. Father Andrew Abayomi, explained that the gunmen held sway for about 25 minutes, shooting sporadically.
“We were about to round off service. I had even asked people to start leaving, that was how we started hearing gunshots from different angles.
“We hid inside the church but some people had left when the attack happened. We locked ourselves in the church for 20 minutes. When we heard that they had left, we opened the church and rushed victims to the hospital.”
Another witness, Taiwo Kasali, a motorcyclist said he was approaching the church when he saw the people running away and had to stop, only for him to see four men entering a Golf Volkswagen car.
He said some men of the Amotekun Corps who were coming with their vehicle gave the hoodlums a hot chase saying, “I learnt the gunmen abandoned their vehicle and ran away.”
He, however, wondered how the hoodlums were able to carry out the attack in the heart of the town, saying the Church is sandwiched between the main market and the palace of the Olowo of Owo, and that the hoodlums operated unhindered for over 25 minutes.
Decrying the attack, the Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, who visited the scene of the attack said: “This is madness! All over the world, there is no where people will plan to come and kill babies, children, husbands and wives worshipping on a special day, the Pentecost day.
“It’s quite unbelievable that somebody will come and the intention is to kill everybody in that church. Those who were running out were being shot from outside, and those who were inside were being shot.
“They threw dynamites to blow off the altar down to the sanctuary. This kind of desecration can only be done by the evil ones.
“Probably what the world should know is that Nigeria is in war and this kind of war is directed at civilians. I don’t know the point someone is trying to make with this kind of evil but whatever point they intended to make they have not made any point and they have not achieved anything, unfortunately.”
– Media Report