…Explosives, guns were used during church attack
No fewer than 58 worshippers, including children, reportedly lost their lives after terrorists attacked Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, yesterday morning. LEADERSHIP gathered that heavily-armed terrorists invaded the church and shot continuously into the crowd of worshippers during the church’s early morning service.
Some witnesses told LEADERSHIP that the invaders made use of both guns and explosive devices during the attack of the church very close to the Olowo of Owo’s Palace.
A source who does not want his name mentioned said, “They made use of IEDs when they attacked the church. They shot at many people within the premises. My cousin was shot in the leg during the attack. She has been rushed to the hospital.
“My grandmother was quite lucky because she was among the first people to leave the church as soon as the Mass came to an end. The service had actually ended when the men attacked.
“As soon as they began shooting and making use of explosives, the members that were still within the church hall quickly shut the doors. The people that were mostly attacked were the members that had already left the premises.
Another source identified as Olabamiji said some of the gunmen disguised themselves as worshippers in the church during the Sunday Mass but later opened fire at the worshippers.
Olabamiji, who added that the terrorists threw dynamites into the church, said, “We saw them, they didn’t cover their faces. Initially, we thought they were going into the church for the service, not knowing that they were gunmen. Suddenly, we heard gunshots; they directed the guns at anyone on sight, particularly women and children.
“During the period the attack lasted, we did not see any security operative to confront the attackers. We could not even count their number because everybody ran for safety. This is very unfortunate. The attackers fled immediately after they were done and they were not checked.”
Speaking on the incident, some workers of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, disclosed that the casualties brought to the hospital were over 50.
According to some of them who spoke to LEADERSHIP, some of the victims brought there were dead already while others were still alive.
They said, “They are still bringing people to the hospital. Some have been confirmed dead while others are still breathing. But for now, I can’t specify the number of those that died.”
Also, a nurse with St. Louis Hospital, Owo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that many casualties were brought to the hospital and he was able to count 12 that were dead on arrival.
Another source who also spoke on condition of anonymity hinted that the whole area was enveloped with tension and panic.
According to him, “The church that was attacked was at the back of the palace and we are still wondering how gunmen could carry out such an attack at the central eye of the town. This is unbelievable.”
Narrating the incident, one of the priests in the church, Rev. Father Andrew Abayomi, said the terrorists struck as the day’s service was about to end.
“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,” he said.
Also, the Ondo State Catholic Diocese has described the incident as sad, adding that while the Holy Mass was going on, unknown gunmen attacked the church, leaving many dead, many others injured and the church violated.
According to a statement issued by the Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, Director of Social Communications, the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown while the situation has left the community devastated.
He, however, said, for now, security agencies had been deployed to the community to handle the situation.
Ikwu said, “At this point in the history of our dear country Nigeria, we need God’s intervention to restore peace and tranquillity.
“Meanwhile, all the priests and bishop in the parish are safe and none was kidnapped as the social media has it. Nonetheless, let us continue to pray for them and the good people of Owo and the state at large.
“We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost to this distressing incident, and we pray for the departed souls to rest in peace. Amen.”
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the incident happened at 11:30am, while the Church service was ongoing.
According to her, preliminary investigation revealed that the assailants approached the church during the service, started shooting from outside the church while others, numbering about four, shot directly into the church.
She said, “The CP, while commiserating with the church, family of the deceased, the people of Owo and Ondo State Government, has ordered immediate deployment of armed and specialised policemen to the area to restore normalcy and fortify the entire community.”
Meanwhile, the CP has equally ordered forensic investigation into the attack to ascertain the actual or remote cause(s) of the attack and for immediate arrest of the assailants as all hands are deck to forestall any similar attack in any part of the state.
Some Photos from the scene of the attack. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED
