Gunmen
burst into a Catholic Church in Nigeria on Sunday morning and opened
fire on congregants and set off explosives, reportedly killing dozens of
worshippers as they celebrated Mass on Pentecost Sunday.
The
attack occurred on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, in Ondo State, in
the southwest part of the country that rarely sees this kind of
violence more common in Central Nigeria.
Disturbing video
footage of the scene obtained by International Christian Concern showed
bodies lying between pews as worshippers wailed in mourning.
Legislator
Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo area in Nigeria's lower
legislative chamber, told local media outlets that at least 50 people
had been killed. Local officials, however, had not yet released the
total number killed or injured.
Ondo State Governor Rotimi
Akeredolu posted remarks on twitter, saying, “This vile and satanic
attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom
who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.… I appeal to our people
to maintain calm and let the security agencies take charge … the
perpetrators will never escape. We are after them. And I can assure you
we will get them.”
While radical Fulani militants have terrorized
the Middle Belt region of Nigeria over the past two decades,
authorities are still investigating the source of Sunday’s attack.
ICC staff in Nigeria will provide further details as they come in.
Sunday, June 5, 2022
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exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the
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