Black Sunday in Owo: Catholic Diocese speaks on attack at St Francis

The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has opened up on the terrorists attack that claimed lives and left many injured in St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Catholic Diocese as saying no priest was abducted by the terrorists who attacked the parish while service was going on contrary to earlier reports.

However the church confirmed that the terrorists killed many worshippers and injured many others, stressing that the situation has left the community devastated.

The diocese made this known in a statement released by its Director Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, while adding that the identity of the terrorists were yet to be known.

The statement reads: “It is Pentecost Sunday when every Catholic is expected to be in Church to commemorate the Solemnity. It is so sad to say that while the Holy Mass was going on, unknown Gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. Leaving many feared dead and many others injured and the Church violated.

“The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown while the situation has left the community devastated.

“However, for now, security agencies have been deployed to the community to relatively handle the situation. At this point in the history of our dear country Nigeria, we need God’s ultimate intervention to restore peace and tranquillity.

“Meanwhile, all the Priests and Bishop in the parish are safe and non was kidnapped as the social media has it. Nonetheless, let us continue to pray for them and the good people of Owo and the state at large.

“We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost to this distressing incident, and we pray for the departed souls to rest in peace. Amen.

“The Bishop appeals that we remain calm, be law abiding and pray for peace and normalcy to return to our community, state and country”.