Bloody Pentecost Sunday in Nigeria: At least 35 people have been killed in an attack by gunmen on a Catholic service in the country’s southwestern Ondo state. Up to 100 others are said to have been injured. The attackers opened fire on the believers and also threw explosives at them.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari spoke of a horrific act that took place at St. Francis Church in the city of Owo. In Africa’s largest country by population, armed gangs have repeatedly attacked and kidnapped people for ransom. However, most of these crimes did not take place in this region, but in the northwest of the country.
Ondo state governor Rotimi Akeredolu called the attack “disgusting and satanic,” adding that “it is a calculated attack on the peace-loving people of Owo.” A video recording is circulating on social media that should show the location of the event. Apparently there are dead people on the floor covered in blood – including children.
Reports of kidnappings rejected
“The massacre has destroyed the community,” the Roman press service “Fides” quoted a statement from the diocese on Monday as reported by Kathpress. The Bishop of Ondo, Jude Arogundade, urged all believers to “keep calm, respect the law and pray for peace and a return to normalcy in our community, our state and our country”. At the same time, the diocese wants to refute false reports about the attack: “All the priests and the bishop are safe and none of them have been kidnapped, as falsely reported on social networks.”
The security situation in Nigeria has long been considered tense. Africa’s most populous country has recently experienced a new wave of violence. However, it is the first time that a major attack has been committed on a church in the predominantly Christian south. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pope Francis also expressed his sorrow on Sunday. The Pope prays “for the victims and for the country, which is painfully afflicted at a time of celebration, and entrusts both to the Lord so that he sends his Spirit to comfort them,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. First of all, the details of the incident need to be clarified.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
