At least 50 people are feared dead after “Satanic” gunmen opened fire on Christian churchgoers and detonated explosives at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday, according to officials.
Despite mainstream media attempts to downplay the issue, Christianity is the world’s most persecuted religion, according to a new study that reveals 5,600 Christians were murdered last year, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.
This latest attack on Christianity took place at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo town, in Ondo State, happened during the morning service on Pentecost Sunday in the southwest of the African country.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack and the motives is not immediately clear, but President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the ‘heinous killing of worshippers’ and Ondo state governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu described the killers as “Satanic.”
Videos appearing to be from the scene of the attack showed church Christian worshipppers lying in pools of blood while people around them wailed.
Daily Mail report: Ondo state governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said in a statement it was a ‘vile and satanic attack‘ and appealed to the security forces to track down the assailants.
In a tweet, he added: ‘Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people.‘
Local politician Ogunmolasuyi Oluwole, who visited the scene and also the hospital where many of the wounded were being treated, said among the dead were many children.
State police spokeswoman Ibukun Odunlami said the gunmen attacked the church with explosives, leaving an undisclosed number of worshippers dead.
‘It’s still premature to say exactly how many people were killed. But many worshippers lost their lives while others were injured in the attack,’ she said.
Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo area in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, said the presiding priest was abducted as well.
‘I was passing through the area when I heard a loud explosion and gunshots inside the church,’ he continued.
He said he saw at least five gunmen on the church premises before he ran away for safety.
Gun and bomb attacks are rare in Ondo state, but Nigeria’s military is battling a 12-year-old jihadist insurgency in the northeast, kidnapping gangs in the northwest and separatist agitation in the southeast.
Nigeria’s security forces did not immediately respond to enquiries as to how the attack occurred or if there are any leads about suspects. Owo is about 215 miles east of Lagos.
‘In the history of Owo, we have never experienced such an ugly incident,’ said lawmaker Oluwole. ‘This is too much.’