Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has disclosed that Sunday attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo was carried out by terrorists of Mali origin who were trained in Libya.
He described the attack as vile and satanic, vowing to apprehend the blood-sucking marauders in no time.
Stonix News had reported that gunmen had, on Sunday morning, attacked the church and opened fire on worshippers, killing several of them.
The governor, who hurriedly left Abuja to visit Owo, his country-home where the incident occurred, urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
“What happened here is too tragic. It is the most tragic event. What is happening in America is a child’s play to what has happened here.
“To say the least, it is condemnable. I’m grieved. Let me let you know that we have a duty to protect you.
“Security services also lost about two men. The attack was sudden. How they carried out the attack and entered the church cannot be explained.
“No one thought that such incident could happen in Ondo State not to talk of Owo.
“Let us not retaliate because we will apprehend them. Don’t take laws into your hands. I want to express my condolences to the families of the victims.
“Security agencies in the state must take all steps necessary because this must not repeat itself.
“On our own part, we must be vigilant. We take responsibility for what has happened.
“Most of those that are carrying out these attacks are foreigners from Mali who were trained in Libya,” he averred.
It will be recalled that several worshippers including women, children and men, were hacked to death by some gunmen during the Holy Mass to mark the Day of Pentecost in the church.
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo where most injured were evacuated to had, on Sunday, requested blood donation from members of the public to save lives.