Nigerian forces searching for gunmen who killed 50 in church attack
The gunmen who killed 50 individuals at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria opened hearth on worshippers each inside and out of doors the constructing in a co-ordinated assault earlier than escaping the scene, authorities and witnesses mentioned Monday.
Though Nigerian safety forces haven’t but recognized who carried out Sunday’s assault on St. Francis Church within the city of Owo in comparatively peaceable Ondo state, analysts steered they got here from elsewhere within the West African nation, which is stricken by violence from numerous armed teams, kidnappers and extremists.
Nobody has claimed duty for the church killings, by which youngsters have been among the many useless and the gunmen detonated some form of explosive. Scores of individuals have been wounded, though a precise quantity was not launched by overwhelmed hospital staff.
A state lawmaker from the area mentioned the dying toll was at the least 50, and scores of individuals have been wounded, though a precise quantity was not launched by overwhelmed hospital staff.
“The assault is undoubtedly terrorist in nature, and the dimensions and brutality suggests it was fastidiously deliberate slightly than impulsive,” mentioned Eric Humphery-Smith, senior Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft threat intelligence firm.
The St. Francis Catholic Church within the city of Owo within the Ondo state of Nigeria, was the location of a lethal taking pictures on Sunday, with greater than 50 useless, together with youngsters.
State Police Commissioner Oyeyemi Oyediran mentioned safety forces, together with the navy, pursued the attackers, “however sadly, we couldn’t meet up with them.”
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and different authorities officers visited the church Monday. A day earlier, he pledged that “we’ll hold standing towards evil, and Nigeria will win.”
Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation with 206 million individuals, has grappled for over a decade with an insurgency within the northeast by Islamic extremist rebels of Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province. The extremists, who’ve killed greater than 35,000 individuals by a UN depend, are preventing to determine Shariah regulation and to cease Western schooling.
Celebrating Pentecost
Ondo, nonetheless, has lengthy been thought-about one of many safer states within the nation.
Sunday Adewale, who works within the palace of the native chief, mentioned the gunmen used the factor of shock to their benefit.
“Everyone felt relaxed and had gone to church,” he mentioned. “Inside half-hour, they did what they wished and went away.”
The assault got here as worshippers have been celebrating the feast of Pentecost, an necessary Catholic post-Easter vacation. Bishop Jude Arogundade mentioned some gunmen entered the church whereas others stayed outdoors to shoot anybody who fled.
The priest celebrating the mass was giving the blessing to finish the service when the attackers got here in and opened hearth, mentioned John Nwovo, 35, who added that he narrowly escaped along with his 5 youngsters by working and hiding within the church’s vestry, together with greater than 30 individuals.
“We needed to pack ourselves inside that place to take refuge from the storm,” he mentioned.
Florence Obi mentioned her sister, Stella Nzelu, fled the church after the taking pictures and the explosion, solely to run into one of many outdoors gunmen, “who shot her within the abdomen at shut vary.” Obi mentioned her sister underwent surgical procedure to take away the bullet and “she is feeling higher now.”
Steven Omotayo, who lives close by, heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene.
“I noticed a whole lot of useless our bodies — each younger and previous, even youngsters,” he mentioned. “The individuals got here in and began taking pictures from the gate.”
He mentioned the church has three entrances and the primary entrance was mentioned to have been locked, making it tough for a lot of to flee.
“They have been simply taking pictures. In the event that they see anybody making an attempt to flee or get up, they are going to simply shoot the particular person,” he mentioned.
