One of the priests at St Francis Catholic Church, Rev Father Andrew Abayomi, has spoken about the occurrence at the church located at Owa-luwa Street, Owo, Ondo State which left scores dead.
The cleric said suspected 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.”
Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu whose hometown the incident occurred, had reacted to the attack.
Expressing shock at the incident, 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.”
The Ondo State Governor commiserate with the people and promised to hunt down the assailants.
“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.
The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained.
However, a health worker on duty at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where the casualties were taken to said over 50 people had been brought to the hospital, saying many were dead already while others were still alive.
