![]() “How long shall we wait, watching them kill our people, and then give them our money to buy more guns?” he asked. And ordinary believers, he believes, are outraged enough to agree. Ransom money is better used to arm the community, he told CT. Testimony Onifade, senior special assistant to CAN’s president, was livid. And he faulted the government for its rhetorical response without offering concrete action to change the security realities. John Hayab, president of Kaduna’s CAN chapter, questioned to CT the paying of ransoms-saying most churches would be unable to do so. May God descend and fight from their roots.” “These people are possessed, demonic, and are not working for the good of the country. “This is raw persecution,” said Israel Akanji, president of the Nigerian Baptist Association, on the Owo killings. He also cited last month’s abduction of a Methodist prelate. “Nigeria will eventually win.”Īnselm Ologunwa, the Ondo state chairman for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said “nowhere is safe in Nigeria.” He linked the Owo massacre to the April attack on a northward train from Abuja, the national capital, that killed nine and kidnapped dozens. “No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light,” Buhari said. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president, condemned the atrocity. “This is a reprisal attack to send a diabolical message to the governor.” “We have enjoyed improved security since herdsmen were driven away from our forests by this administration,” Olayemi reportedly said. The bill also established a framework for the construction of ranches. Such kidnappings and killings are usually associated with northern Nigeria, but a recent local uptick in otherwise peaceful Ondo prompted the state government to implement restrictions on grazing last August. While no one immediately took responsibility for the assault, predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen were suspected, said Adeyemi Olayemi, a lawmaker in Ondo. “We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolve to rid our state of criminals.” “Nevertheless, we shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay,” said the governor. “This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people,” said Akeredolu in a press statement. The Ondo governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said it was a “black Sunday” in Owo. The West African nation’s 470 attacks on churches trailed only China’s tally. 7 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List (WWL), led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year at 4,650 (from Octoto September 30, 2021), up from 3,530 the previous reporting period. Pope Francis was aware, stated the Vatican, and is praying. The Associated Press reported that one kidnapping victim was the presiding priest. Circulated videos showed bloody images of men, women, and children strewed among the pews.Īmong other Owo residents, Loye Owolemi said about 70 worshipers were shot dead and others abducted when terrorists attacked the church service. He said it was difficult to give details about the number killed and injured, as leaders were focusing on transferring the wounded to hospitals. This lasted for about 20 minutes before they retreated.” “Some of us hid inside the church as they shot randomly at us. They shot at the congregation while breaking into the church by throwing improvised explosive devices at the church building,” Abayomi said. “We were in worship Mass when the terrorists attacked us. The church, one of the largest in the area, can hold up to 1,200 people and was full at the time of the attack.Ī priest at the church, Andrew Abayomi, told MSN that as the worship service was coming to an end, the terrorists threw explosive devices and shot at worshipers. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, at about 9 a.m., church leaders and residents told Morning Star News (MSN) through text messages. ABUJA, Nigeria – Terrorists launched a gun and bomb attack at the end of a Catholic Mass in southwest Nigeria on Sunday, killing an estimated 70 worshipers according to residents and church leaders.
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