The Governor of Ondo State and a Priest at St Francis Catholic Church in Owa-Iuwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, where scores were killed today have recounted the deadly attack.
Hettysmedia earlier reported that residents of Ondo and Nigerians in general were grief-stricken after seeing videos of unarmed worshipers lying lifeless in pools of their blood.
Explosions and sporadic gunshots rocked the worship centre resulting in the deaths of at least 50 church members and many more badly injured.
An eyewitness Kehinde Ogunkorode told Daily Post that the incident caused chaos in the vicinity. In some reports, it was gathered that the worshippers were shot at by the assailants.
Narrating the dastardly attack, Rev Father Andrew Abayomi, who happens to be one of the Priests in the Church, said the gunmen stormed the church premises when 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,”
The cleric told BBC Yoruba during an interview.
He added: “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.”
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has reacted to the sad development, describing it as unfortunate and satanic.
Akeredoly said the attack was a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of the Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
The Governor’s statement released via his Twitter handle.
Arakunrin Akeredolu @RotimiAkeredolu Jun 6, 2021
IGANGAN PROVOCATIVE ONSLAUGHT ONE TOO MANY.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquillity 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.
“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack. I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.
“I urge our people to remain calm and vigilant. Do not take laws into your hands. I have spoken to the heads of the security agencies. I have equally been assured that security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom,” Akeredolu said.
Read also:
Many Killed as Gunmen Storm Catholic Church in Akeredolu’s Hometown
Ondo Governor, Catholic Priest Recount Sunday Morning Attack by Gunmen
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