By Emmanuel Adeleke
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the terrorist attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo town, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The president, in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said only demons from the underworld would have conceived and carried out such attack.
Buhari condoled with the families of the deceased, the Ondo State Government and the Catholic community.
“President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the heinous killing of worshippers Sunday at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo Kingdom, in Ondo state,” the statement read.
Also, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, described the attack as “vile and satanic”, calling it a “calculated assault” on the people of Owo.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state,” Akeredolu said.
The governor said he had been briefed by the heads of security agencies in the state, adding that his administration will hunt down perpetrators of the attack.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and All Progresses Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu, hace also reacted to the incident.
Osinbajo and Tinubu took to their Twitter handles to express their grief and condemn the killing of innocent worshippers.
“I am saddened by the senseless massacre of innocent people in Owo. My deepest condolences go to the families whose hearts are broken and are grasping for answers.
We are united in grief and a resolve to defeat the cowards who unleash terror on defenseless people,” Osinbajo said.
Tinubu described the attack as evil.
“I strongly condemn the evil and brutal attack that took place at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Ondo State, this morning. I pray healing and comfort for the injured and the bereaved.
“My thoughts and prayers are with H.E. Governor Akeredolu, the government and the people of Ondo State.
May God bless us all,” Tinubu said.
In the same vein, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, have condemned attack.
CAN in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, called on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the “dastardly criminality.”
Afenifere said that the Owo attack over 25 worshippers were murdered, was a direct attack on Yoruba race.
The group’s National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, in a statement, said, “Yoruba land will condone terrorism act on its people.”
Gunmen suapected to be Fulani herders atracked St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, while the Sunday service was nearing its conclusion.
The gunmen were said to have detonated explosives before firing at the worshippers.
Also the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the national leader of the All Progresses Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu condoled with Governor Akeredolu, Ondo State government and the people of the state.
Osinbajo and Tinubu took to their Twitter handle on Sunday.
“I am saddened by the senseless massacre of innocent people in Owo.
My deepest condolences go to the families whose hearts are broken and are grasping for answers.
We are united in grief and a resolve to defeat the cowards who unleash terror on defenseless people” Osinbajo tweets
“My thoughts and prayers are with H.E. Governor Akeredolu, the government and the people of Ondo State.
May God bless us all.” Tinubu tweets
