The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria has lamented the attacks and killing of worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, urging the security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous act.
Some unknown gunmen reportedly shelled the worshippers killing several of them and injuring many others, including passersby during the attack.
CAN, in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Sunday, June 5, by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, described the attack as unprovoked.
The press statement titled, ‘Owo Carnage: No explanation for the carnage,’ read that “This is sad, wrong, condemnable, outrageous, unacceptable and satanic. There is no explanation for this unprovoked attack and assault on a place of worship.
“This is raw persecution. These people are possessed, demonic and are not working for the good of the country. May God descend heavily on them and fight the mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.
“We are once again reiterating our quest for a total overhauling of the security architecture and are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme.
“If the programme is not counterproductive, how come the criminalities are always on the increase and nowhere is safe again? This menace of insecurity has gotten out of hands and is embarrassingly sore.
“Criminals are operating with impunity all over the country and unfortunately our government appears to be so busy with the 2023 general election that it has no time for the unending killings in the country. What legacy is the government and those who are the managers of our security architecture leaving behind for the unborn generation?
“We are praying for the government and the security agencies to get it right before it will be too late. If the Federal Government is not interested in the State Police, what efforts are being put in place to arrest this unpleasant situation? We call on the state governors to meet with the President to find the lasting solution to these killings.
“Issuing mere press statements of condemnations and what looks like empty threat is apparently not a way out of it. CAN commiserates with all the bereaved, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye; the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the Ondo State Government.”
Also, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has commiserated with his Ondo State counterpart, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and the people of the state on the attack and killings of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo in Ondo State by unknown gunmen on Sunday.
The governor, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I commiserate with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Government and the entire people of the State over the tragic loss in the state caused by the attack and killings of worshippers by the evil men this morning.
“Attacking a congregation and shedding innocent blood during a divine service in the temple of God is condemnable as it is a crime against humanity. It is barbaric, callous and despicable crime for any man to attack and kill worshippers or any fellow man in a manner the yet-to-be-identified gunmen carried out the heinous crime in the Catholic Church on this morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and the Christian community and the people of Owo as well as the entire people of Ondo State, who are affected by this unfortunate incident.”
Meanwhile, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, in a statement issued and signed by Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, Director, Social Communications of the diocese, has called for calm, praying that normalcy should return to the community.
Refuting reports that some priests were kidnapped after the suspected terrorists killed some worshippers during service, the statement read that “It is Pentecost Sunday when every Catholic is expected to be in Church to commemorate the Solemnity. It is so sad to say that while the Holy Mass was going on, unknown gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State leaving many feared dead and many others injured and the Church violated.
“The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown while the situation has left the community devastated.
“However, for now, security agencies have been deployed to the community to relatively handle the situation. At this point in the history of our dear country Nigeria, we need God’s ultimate intervention to restore peace and tranquillity.
“Meanwhile, all the Priests and Bishop in the parish are safe and non was kidnapped as the social media had it. Nonetheless, let us continue to pray for them and the good people of Owo and the state at large.
“We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost to this distressing incident, and we pray for the departed souls to rest in peace.”
Reacting to the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, that only fanatics from the bottommost region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act, adding that eternal sorrow awaits them both on earth here, and ultimately in the hereafter.
Scores of worshippers were killed and wounded after gunmen attacked the church.
President Buhari condoled the families of the victims, the Catholic Church, and the Government of Ondo State, charging emergency agencies to swing into action and bring succour to the wounded.
“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win.”
The casualties were said to have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, Ondo State.
