Owo attack: How gunmen attacked us — Priest, others recount ordeal
… CAN protests killing
…Akeredolu directs flying of flags at half mast for seven days in honour of victims
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Assistant Parish Priest who was conducting the Mass during the Sunday attack at the St. Francis Catholic church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, Father Andrew Adeniyi Abayomi, has given an account of how the church was attacked, saying he heard about four explosives during the attack which left many people dead while others sustained injuries.
Abayomi who spoke with journalists at the church premises on Monday said the gunmen struck as the church service was wrapping up.
According to him, “From what I can still recall, towards the close of the Mass, in fact, I had told the people, ‘go forth, the Mass is ended,’ and they responded. It was at that moment we held a loud noise, within me, I thought somebody fell but when I looked at the sanctuary, I saw one of us who could have seen the gunmen from outside.
“So, he quickly closed the door, from that moment, a message got to me on the sanctuary that armed gunmen were around. From that moment, I told the people, to enter the sacred, it is a place behind the sanctuary, to have an escape route. Like me, I ran to the inner room with some children and they were saying father pray, pray! And I told them to calm down. So, within that moment, I heard about four explosives.
“I didn’t see their faces because already, some of us had moved inside the other part of the Church where people were using as escape.
“After over 20 minutes, where I was, I was able to pick my phone, then call the parish priest (the pastor in-charge), because I am an assistant. Father where are you? I asked, he said he was still at this other places where he had gone to celebrate Mass. I told him, these is what is happening, if you have the contact of security agencies, please call them. Then, I called the first assistant too.
“So, after 20 minutes, I got to know that they’ve gone. That was when I came out and I saw the casualties lying on the floor. So, I called members who still have courage, let us drive our brothers and sisters to the hospital.
“When I was going to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, I was told that St. Louis Catholic Hospital, Owo is filled already and rejecting people. Even, when I got to FMC, they were already rejecting people and I had to begged them that even if it is to attend to them outside.”
Another eyewitness who was in the church, Ezenma Kingsley said most of the victims were women and children
He said, “I was in the church and I heard gunshots along the gate, I came out from the church and I saw a tall man with long face cap, he shot the gun at my side but I guess he didn’t see me. He shot another one again, then I told myself, who is this foolish man shooting gun here? He shot another one, so, I knew there was danger.
“So, I went back inside and I locked the entrance door. Before I could peep through the window, the man was already going through the right side of the church and entered through the other door and he started shooting gun. The shooting was too much.
“Then, I heard another sound like bomb, after I regained myself, I looked up and I told myself that the church has not fallen because I was thinking that the bomb will bring it down. They repeated it again and was also shooting. I wanted to jump through the window but I thought some of them could still be outside.”
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Owo Local Government Chapter has protested against the killing, calling on international bodies to intervene.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘stop killing Christians,’ ‘stop playing politics with our lives,’ ‘to be united needs peace,’ address insecurity in Nigeria, stop the persecution of Christians among others.
Joshua Oladapo, the Chairman of the association said, “We Christian leaders in Owo Local Government have come out to express our dissatisfaction, displeasure over the killing in one of our Christian church.
“We feel so sad with this evil occurrence. This is a Clarion call to not only Nigerian leaders but to the international communities that these incessant attacks most especially to churches and christian bodies in our nation should not continue.”
Meanwhile, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has donated 50million naira for the families of the victims of the terror attack with another 25million naira for the Catholic church.
Tinubu, alongside with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Lagos Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, former Head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu, Chief Pius Akinyelure and other eminent Nigerians, who spoke at the palace of Olowo of Owo, emphasised that the security situation in the country has to be enhanced in order to apprehend those involved in the dastardly act.
Tinubu, while assuring the Ondo state government that he would do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the horrendous attack, however, said the perpetrators of the evil act meant more damage than Governor Akeredolu described.
“God in His infinite mercy saved some people. Some people died as a result of this evil act. We pray that they will not die in vain.
“We as promoters and supporters of this government, we will do everything to apprehend those who perpetrated this crime.
“Kabiyesi, May God Almighty give peace to you and the people of Owo and the families of those who are directly affected. It is very hard to take.
“Whatever we can do as politicians and as government supporter, we will do. We pray that Almighty God will continue to spare our lives, Government will not relent,” Tinubu said.
Also speaking at the palace of Olowo of Owo, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said it was worrisome that this attack is happening in the region of Nigeria that has a measure of peace and tranquility saying this could only have been intentioned to destabilise the state and plunge the nation to needless crisis.
According to Aregbesola, their action was capable of widening the cracks in national harmony and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, stoking ethnic and religious crises and pitting the people against one and other on the basis of primordial cleavages.
The Interior Minister said, “We must not be provoked to senselessly attack on each other in reaction to the evil plot of some nihilists and criminals bent on plunging the nation into chaos and anarchy. Those who attacked innocent people worshipping in the house of God are the enemies. They are nothing more than cowardly savages and animals.
“We are doing everything possible to make the nation secure and peaceful. The Federal Government is outraged by this attack and will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the attack.
“We must remain irrepressible and undeterred. We should not give the enemies the benefit of rejoicing over us. The attack was meant to dampen our morale and plunge us to gloom and darkness. We must bounce back big time. But we should rise to defend our land and take our historic position in leading the black race to fulfilling their destiny.”
In his own statement, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said, “One is almost completely speechless because looking at the extent of tragedy that took place here on Sunday, the evil is almost unspeakable.
“It is a horrible thing indeed. That people will gather on a Sunday morning for worship bad then be confronted by this sort of heinous and barbaric murder. I think it is just terrible.
“I’m here on behalf of the president as well as the government to express our sincere condolence first to the church and then to the people of Owo and to the people of Ondo State.
“This is a horrible tragedy. I do not think that anyone will wish even their worst adversaries. It is also a time to reflect deeply on the questions of our relationship to each other, I think that is one of the things that has happened here. Everybody has condemned it.
“It is a sore in the heart of every Nigerian. Those who perpetrated this does not represent us in any way. These are animals who have behaved in a manner that should ordinarily shock even the most depraved of human beings.
“All of us who are here are being encouraged by the courage of the priesthood here and the members of the congregation have shown as well as this community.
“They are the ones who define us, there attitude of peace and calm and approaching this with fortitude and calmness.
“I truly think that they are the ones who represents who we are as Nigerians. As you know the president has already ordered a full investigation of this crime. I assure that those who perpetrated this will be fish out and try will pay.”
The Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye who also spoke on the incident said the perpetrators of the ugly attack wanted to make a statement.
He said the Federal Government needs to be proactive, saying, “Our forest here in Owo, in Yoruba land have been invaded. Our farmers can’t go to farms again. Those in our forest illegally must be flushed out.”
While the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed all public buildings, facilities and official residences to fly the Nigerian flag at half-mast for seven days in honour of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday.
According to Akeredolu, the attack on the innocent worshipers during the Mass was a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state.
The Governor said, “those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves. We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act.
“In honour of the victims of this unfortunate attack, I hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from today, Monday, June 6, to Sunday, June 12, 2022. It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state.”
However, as of the time of filing this report, the total number of casualties have not been ascertained as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami said she could not give account of the figure.
