50 people are reportedly dead after gunmen opened fire at Catholic worshippers during a church procession both outside and inside of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Among the victims of the vile act included women and children. At least 50 bodies were brought to two local hospitals with Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu visited both the church and hospital, a development that he branded as vile and satanic.
"The vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years,” Governor Akeredolu stated.
The Governor added that the great massacre should not be allowed to happen again. He called it the most dastardly act that could happen to any society and labeled it as black Sunday in Owo.
Also, Akeredolu urged residents to stay calm and pleaded with locals not to take the law into their own hands. He vowed that the attackers would pay for their crimes.
As of this writing, the motive and identities of the attackers have yet to be known. In a statement, President Muhammadu Buhari called the attack "heinous."
"No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people and darkness will never overcome light," Buhari stated.
Also, Reverend Augustine Ikwu they are turning to God to console all families. He also condemned the act which took place while a Holy Mass was ongoing.
"We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost,” Ikwu said. "It is so sad that while the Holy Mass was going on, unknown gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church...leaving many feared dead and many others injured and the Church violated."
Right now, medics are in dire need of blood to treat the casualties, the Mirror reported.
As far as motive, lawmaker Adeyemi Olayemi believes that the shooting was carried out by Fulani terrorists, the Sun reported.
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