* Killings Wicked, Barbaric – CAN

* Group Condemns Attack, Seeks Arrest  of Perpetrators 

* Police Deploy Anti-Bomb Squad

By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja and  Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the heinous killing of worshippers yesterday at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo Kingdom in Ondo State.

The President said only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act, adding that eternal sorrow awaits them both on earth and ultimately in the hereafter.

“President Buhari mourns the dead, condoles with their families, the Catholic Church, and the Government of Ondo State, charging emergency agencies to swing into action, and bring succor 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 President said in a statement by his spokesperson  in Abuja.

Also yesterday, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,   expressed deep sadness over what he described as the unprovoked attack and killing of the innocent people.

“The vile and satanic attack was a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who  before now, enjoyed relative peace over the years.”

“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.

“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, We shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.

“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of 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.

It will be recalled that gunmen yesterday morning attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, headquaters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing over 50 members of the congregation, during the church service.

It was gathered that no fewer than 50 corpses have been moved out of the church with many casualties lying at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, for medical attention.

According to a source, who explained that some gunmen invaded the church during service, and opened fire on the members of the church, killing no fewer than 50 people.

He explained that the congregation were caught unaware saying the casualty might be more as some worshippers who were taken to the hospital have gave up.

He added that the gunmen also used some explosives within the compound of the church but said most of the people were hit with gunshots.

The perpetrators were said to have fled the scene immediately they carried out the killing, leaving many people dead.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has condemned the killing of worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, Ondo State yesterday.

Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode in Ado-Ekiti, described the attack during a Holy Mass on Pentecost Sunday as very barbaric and callous.

According to him, there can never be any justification for the heinous behaviour of the assailants.

The governor also commiserated with Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and  people of Ondo  state on  the sad incident.

He urged security agencies in the state to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime were apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

Fayemi also tasked them to remain vigilant.

“The perpetrators of this dastardly act should not go unpunished. We call on relevant security agencies in the state to spring into action and ensure that they are brought to book.

“Our condolences to the government and good people of Ondo state as well as families that lost their loved ones in the carnage,” he said.

In solidarity with the sister state, the governor, however, directed the Ekiti  Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Banji Filani, to immediately send human and medical resources to Ondo state.

CAN Describes Owo Church Killing as Wicked, Barbaric

Also yesterday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the killing of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State as barbaric and wicked.

Chairman of CAN in the state, Rev. Anselm Ologunwa, in a statement yesterday in Akure, condemned the attack.

“The killing of some innocent souls in the name of whichever guise is the highest criminality everybody should rise up and condemn in our society.

“How can some people just wake up from nowhere and decide to kill their fellow men unjustly without any recourse to the judgement of God,” he said.

Ologunwa called on the government to address the security challenges confronting the country.

According to him, “nowhere is safe in Nigeria with the recent kidnapping of Prelate of the Methodist Church and two others on the road, the train attack and on the air and now is inside the church of God.”

The CAN Chairman noted that the day was the feast of the Pentecost Sunday in the history of the Catholic Church, assuring  the people that the Holy Spirit of God would definitely fight for those that were killed in the incident.

Ologunwa called on the state government and security agencies to as a matter of urgency go after the perpetrators of the heinous act and bring them to justice.

The chairman condoled with families of the victims, the Catholic Community and the entire state, and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He assured that CAN would continue to promote religious harmony and equal opportunities for all in the state without discrimination.

The CAN chairman admonished the people of the state to complement Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu’s efforts on security, charging them to be security conscious at all times. (NAN)

Group Condemn Ondo Church Attack, Wants Perpetrators Arrested

Similarly, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Nigerian Development Front (NDF), yesterday condemned in strong terms the recent attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo state, which had led to the death of many innocent lives.

President of the group, Mr Charles Adeyemi, said this in an interview yesterday in Osogbo.

Adeyemi, who expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased and the state government, said there was the need to apprehend the assailants and ensure they are brought to face the wrath of laws.

According to him, the attack was evil and inhumane, looking at the damages done to human lives and the house of God.

He appealed to security agencies in the state to rise to the occasion and ensure that the perpetrators pay for their evil act.

Adeyemi, however, advised residents to be more vigilant in their respective areas, especially across various places of worships, schools and public gathering.

CAN describes Owo church killing as wicked, barbaric

Police Deploy Anti-Bomb Squad

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Oyeyemi Oyediran, says he has deployed officers of the Explosive Ordinance Device Unit (anti-bomb squad) to the scene of  explosion in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami on Sunday in Akure.

There was an explosion on Sunday at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo.

NAN also gathered that many people were killed and injured as a result of an explosion which occurred at the church premises.

The CP said efforts were being intensified to arrest those who perpetrated the evil.

“The command is aware of the attack at Owo, we will give you the full details of the incident later.

“We want to implore the people of the state to be calm as all security apparatus are currently active to ensure peace in the area,” Oyediran said. (NAN)