Kamogelo Olaitan
Gunmen have reportedly killed more than 70 worshippers and injured dozens at a Catholic church in Ondo state, Nigeria.
The men stormed the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo on Sunday during a church service and started shooting at congregants, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to local media.
Apart from worshippers, the men allegedly killed passersby who were hit by stray bullets.
“The gunmen also used some explosives within the compound of the church but most of the people were hit with gunshots,” an eyewitness said.
The gunmen fled the scene immediately after the attack.
In a series of tweets the state’s governor Arakunrin Akeredolu said he was deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people.
“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,” he tweeted.
There are unconfirmed reports that the gunmen in Ondo also kidnapped several worshippers during the attack.
In a series of tweets, Governor Akeredolu appealed for calm and said people should not “take laws into your hands”.
“Security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to the Owo kingdom,” he added.
In the past few months, Nigeria has experienced a surge in violent mass killings and kidnappings by terrorists.
