Over 70 worshipers killed by unknown gun men, at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State

Suspected terrorists have attacked a church in Ondo State, with a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people killed while scores were injured.

The incident was said to have occurred at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. the church is behind Olowo of Owo palace. 

Many members of the congregation were shot and slaughtered. 

 One of the videos of the incident showed that children were also killed in the attack. 

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, on her mobile line were not successful as she did not pick up. 

She also did not reply to a text message sent to her. 

In what can be described as a sad in the history of Nigeria, Rev Father Andrew Abayomi, one of the priests at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, Ondo state, has narrated how the church was attacked. He made this known in an interview with BBC Yoruba. 

According to the cleric, the terrorists struck as the day’s service was about to end.  

He said: “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.” 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has reacted to the incident, which happened in his hometown. 

He described the attack as “vile and satanic”, saying it was a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years. 

He said: “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.” 

Is this not enough to doubt the existence of God😰
Oh lord save our land if you truly exist🙏#ondo #owomassacre The Owo pic.twitter.com/AUtnD9CeIe

— ABAYOMI CORNELIUS (@heischoni) June 5, 2022