President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the heinous killing of worshippers yesterday at the St Francis Catholic Church, in Owo, Ondo State.
The president, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said only fiends from the netherworld could have conceived and carried out such a dastardly act, adding that eternal sorrow awaits them both on earth here, and ultimately in the hereafter.
President Buhari mourned the dead, condoled with their families, the Catholic Church, and the government of Ondo State, just as he urged the emergency agencies to swing into action to bring succour to the wounded.
“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win,” the President said.
On his part, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo expressed sadness over the killings of worshipers in Owo, Ondo State.
In a tweet on his personal Twitter handle, the Vice President condoled the families of the victims.
He tweeted, “I am saddened by the senseless massacre of innocent people in Owo. My deepest condolences go to the families whose hearts are broken and are grasping for answers.
“We are united in grief and a resolve to defeat the cowards who unleash terror on defenseless people.”
In his reaction, Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who described the attack as satanic, said it was a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of the Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
Akeredolu vowed to hunt down the assailants and assured the people of the ancient town that those behind the attack will surely pay for their crime.
He said he was deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people of Owo worshipping at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street on Sunday.
According to him, “It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.
“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is presently on his way to Owo Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked, to say the least. Nevertheless, we shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.”
He condoled with the people of Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives in the attack, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.
He called for calm and vigilance, adding that he had spoken to the heads of the security agencies and received assurance that security operatives would be deployed to restore normalcy to Owo.
Akeredolu, however, met with the heads of all security agencies in the state immediately after he returned from Abuja to assess the situation.
Governor Akeredolu, who moved straight to Owo from the Akure Airport, received briefs from the heads of security agencies in the state.
Ondo Killings Gory, Wicked – Governors’ Forum
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed its deepest sympathies to the Owo community, the government and people of Ondo State and the country in general following the attack on worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Ondo State in which scores of people were killed.
The NGF, in a statement by the chairman and Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, considers this incident a gory, ugly, and gruesome act by extremely wicked and warped minds meted out to innocent victims on a holy day.
He, however, said “in the spirit of all our faiths, we pray for them, and may God forgive and grant them mercy.
“As governors, on our oath, we solemnly pledge to work with Mr President, all citizens and residents of our dear Country, Nigeria to assure you of a fully secure environment.
“Our goal is to halt brutalities, address unresolved criminal acts and ensure all killers are ultimately brought to face the consequences of their actions,” he added.
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