Ondo Catholic Diocese : No priest kidnapped during Owo church attack

*CAN says church attack ‘raw persecution’, says no explanation for the carnage

The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has condemned the attack by gunmen on a church in Owo LGA, adding that no priest was kidnapped during the attack.

Gunmen attacked the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo while the Sunday service was nearing its conclusion and killed many people  including children and women.

The gunmen were said to have detonated explosives before firing at the worshippers.

In a statement on Sunday, Augustine Ikwu, the diocese’s director of social communications, said the attack happened on Pentecost Sunday “when every Catholic is expected to be in church to commemorate the solemnity”.

He said the situation has left the community devastated.

He, however, noted that “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,” he said.

Ikwu also clarified that contrary to social media reports, no priest was kidnapped.

“All the priests and bishop in the parish are safe and non was kidnapped as the social media has it. Nonetheless, let us continue to pray for them and the good people of Owo and the state at large,” he said.

“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. Amen.

“The bishop appeals that we remain calm, be law-abiding and pray for peace and normalcy to return to our community, state and country.”

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says there is no explanation for the killing of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.

The association said the attack, which took place during service on Sunday, is unacceptable while describing the perpetrators as “possessed and demonic”.

Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, spoke on Sunday in a statement issued by Adebayo Oladeji, his media aide.

He said: “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the unprovoked attacks and killing of several innocent worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, and called on the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly criminality.

“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, and demonic, and are not working for the good of the country. May God descend heavily on them and fight them mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.”

The association called on President Muhammadu Buhari to “stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme” and overhaul the country’s security architecture.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the “gruesome terrorist attack” is an indication that the federal government has failed in the war against insecurity.

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP national publicity secretary, said: “The PDP is alarmed by reports of how the terrorists invaded the church, opened fire on worshippers, freely used explosives within the premises, murdered our compatriots in cold blood and left unchallenged.

“Today’s attack on St. Francis Church appears to be a part in the series of apparently organized assaults by terrorists who are emboldened by the alleged complicity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, which has refused to confront the terrorists despite being aware of their plans as exposed by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai at the wake of recent terrorist attacks on Kaduna State.”

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said he is saddened by the “dastardly” killing of worshippers.

“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil, and wicked people will never overcome light,” he said.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the attack and called on the state government and relevant security agencies to “leave no stone unturned in apprehending the criminals and bringing them to justice”.

I condemn the attack on the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo council area of Ondo State capital. My prayers are with the people of Owo, especially families of the deceased.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) June 5, 2022