Ondo: Bloody Sunday As Suspected Gunmen Massacre Church Worshippers

It was a bloody Sunday in Owo town, Ondo State as suspectred gunmen have killed worshippers in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

According to available information, the armed gunmen entered the church during Sunday service and fired upon the congregation and then abducted a priest as well as other worshippers. 

No figures for the numbers killed or abducted in Sunday's attack have been confirmed but an anonymous medical source stated that several worshippers were brought in dead. 

The attack has since triggered tension in the area as some residents were said to have moved out of the town to ensure their safety.

Reacting, the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has described the attack as a "vile and satanic attack" on innocent people. 

In a series of tweets, Governor Akeredolu appealed for calm and asked the people not to take the law into their hands.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Akeredolu, who hails from the local government disclosed that the people of the local government had enjoyed peace over the years also assured that the attackers must be fished out and prosecuted.

“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.

“Security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom," he added

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the Sunday church attack. 

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, [PPRO] Odunlami Ibukun confirmed the incident.

Speaking with journalists at the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment, Ibukun said details of the casualty would soon be communicated in a statement.

”We are currently at the scene of the incident to access damages made.

"It is not like what have been trending on social media.

"We will soon issue statement to give you details of what happened,” she stated.