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Owo church attack

Coordinates: 07°11′40″N 05°35′01″E / 7.19444°N 5.58361°E / 7.19444; 5.58361
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Owo church attack
Part of the herder–farmer conflict in Nigeria
Map
Location of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Nigeria
LocationOwo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Coordinates07°11′40″N 05°35′01″E / 7.19444°N 5.58361°E / 7.19444; 5.58361
Date5 June 2022 (2022-06-05)
TargetChristian worshippers at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Attack type
Mass shooting, bombing, mass murder
Deaths40 confirmed
50+ (reported)
InjuredUnknown
61+ (per government agencies)
No. of participants
5+

On 5 June 2022, a mass shooting and bomb attack occurred at a Catholic church in the city of Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Background

Further information: Boko Haram insurgency, Communal conflicts in Nigeria, Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria, Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria, and Nigerian bandit conflict

Ondo State is a relatively peaceful state in contrast to the rest of Nigeria,[1] which has been fighting against a jihadist insurgency, and a conflict with bandits for more than a decade, as well as a separatist insurgency. An increase in violence between farmers and nomads in Ondo had been recorded prior to the massacre.[2] The state's government had recently passed restrictions on grazing.[3]

Attack

The attack took place at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the Owo local government area at around 11:30 AM.[4] (GMT+1) The worshippers inside the church were holding mass as they celebrated Pentecost.[2] The terrorists entered the church disguised as congregants carrying bags inside which they were hiding their firearms.[5] Terrorists detonated improvised explosive devices right outside the building and started firing their guns. Some of the perpetrators fired directly into the building.[6] The attackers who had disguised themselves as worshippers pulled their guns out and shot a boy selling candy at the entrance,[7] proceeding to open fire on the churchgoers, shooting anybody who they saw move or try to get up.[8] Several passersby were also hit by bullets.[9] Videos showed dead bodies of victims lying in pools of blood across the floor.[3][10] The churchgoers tried to flee the building, but the main entrance was locked and the gunmen fired at people trying to run through the remaining two doors.[8]

A priest who survived the massacre said that the attack happened when the church "[was] about to round off service. I had even asked people to start leaving, that was how we started hearing gunshots from different angles. We hid inside the church but some people had left when the attack happened. We locked ourselves in the church for 20 minutes. When we heard that they had left, we opened the church and rushed victims to the hospital."[11] Another priest who had temporarily left the building prior to the attack said he was walking back to the church when survivors running outside stopped him and told him that a massacre was taking place inside.[12]

A witness said that he saw five gunmen who perpetrated the attack.[13] Two security forces officers were also killed.[14]

Casualties

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on 7 June that at least 22 dead bodies from the attack were in the local hospital's morgue, including two children,[15] and that at least 58 had been injured.[16][17] Many of the dead bodies at the church had been taken by their family members to a private burial at home, indicating a higher death toll.[15] On 9 June the government revised its death toll to at least 40, saying that 61 injured survivors were still in the hospital.[17][18]

Witnesses and media agencies placed the number of people killed at over 50. Local politician Adelegbe Timileyin said there were over 50 fatalities including children, while other sources estimated a higher death count.[2][19] A doctor said that at least 50 bodies had been recovered.[20][21] Timileyin also said that the priest had been abducted, which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo denied.[13][22] The Diocese's reverend clarified that the priest and other clergymen were safe.[23] Ondo State House of Assembly majority leader Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi visited the attack site and counted at least 20 dead, estimating the death toll at somewhere between 70 and 100.[24] Doctors told reporters that the attack had caused a mass-casualty incident and the local hospitals were overwhelmed with victims.[12]

Aftermath

Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, cancelled his trip in Abuja and went to the scene of the attack;[25] he called it "vile and satanic",[26] as well as a "black Sunday in Owo".[27] Akeredolu vowed to "commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay."[26] President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, condemned the massacre saying it was a "heinous attack on worshippers."[13] Pope Francis prayed for the victims who were "painfully stricken in a moment of celebration."[13]

No group has yet claimed responsibility,[26] and the authorities or government officials have not blamed anyone; numerous Owo locals from the Yoruba ethnic group have accused members of the Hausa and Fulani herdsmen groups of complicity.[28] Police found three undetonated improvised explosive devices at the scene, as well as several shells from AK-47 ammunition.[29][30] Four days after the attack, the National Security Council said that the West Africa Province of the Islamic State was suspected to be the perpetrator.[31]

The massacre was received with widespread shock from the Nigerian public. The response by President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress party was criticized as inadequate, and Buhari sparked controversy after he was caught hosting a party with other APC members hours after the attack.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Nigeria Owo church attack: Gunmen kill Catholic worshippers in Ondo". BBC News. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Over 50 feared dead in Nigeria church attack, officials say". AP NEWS. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Nigeria: gunmen kill dozens in 'satanic' attack on Catholic church". the Guardian. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Owo Church Attack: Police recover 3 unexploded bombs". Vanguard News. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Owo Church Attack: Police recover 3 unexploded bombs". Vanguard News. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Nigeria church massacre: What happened and why?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  7. ^ Adetayo, Ope. "'Last prayer': Nigerian church massacre survivors recount ordeal". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Gunmen at Nigeria church shot from both inside and outside". AP NEWS. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. ^ News, A. B. C. "Dozens feared dead after gunmen attack Nigerian church, officials say". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "UPDATED: Many killed in Ondo church attack". Punch Newspapers. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  11. ^ "'We were locked in the church for over 20 minutes', priest speaks on Ondo attack". Daily Trust. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Nigerian forces hunt for gunmen who killed 50 at church". AP NEWS. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d "Worshippers gunned down during church service in Nigeria". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ^ Babajide, Abdul (5 June 2022). "Foreigners from Mali trained in Libya behind attack on Owo Catholic church – Akeredolu". Daily Post Nigeria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Infants among 22 worshippers killed in Nigeria church attack". AP NEWS. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  16. ^ Reuters (7 June 2022). "Nigeria church attack killed 22 and injured 50, official says". Reuters. Retrieved 7 June 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ a b Api, Cue (9 June 2022). "Nigeria church attack: Toll rises to 40, over 60 injured". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 June 2022. (subscription required)
  18. ^ Abuja, Reuters in (9 June 2022). "Islamic State affiliate suspected of Catholic church massacre, Nigeria says". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ "Over 50 Feared Dead in Nigeria Church Attack, Officials say". VOA. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  20. ^ Owoeye, Fikayo (5 June 2022). "At least 50 dead after gunmen attack worshippers at church in Nigeria". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  21. ^ Staff, Foreign. "Children are among dead in church attack in Nigeria". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Owo attack: No priest was kidnapped, says Catholic church". Punch Newspapers. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  23. ^ Owoeye, Fikayo (5 June 2022). "At least 50 killed in massacre at Catholic church in southwest Nigeria". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  24. ^ Ezeamalu, Ben; Peltier, Elian (5 June 2022). "Dozens Feared Dead in Church Attack in Nigeria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  25. ^ Reuters (5 June 2022). "Several dead in Nigeria as gunmen attack Catholic church". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ a b c "'Evil and wicked': Dozens killed in Nigeria church attack". Al Jazeera. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  27. ^ CNN, Nimi Princewill and Amy Cassidy (5 June 2022). "Mass shooting at Nigeria church kills dozens, says local lawmaker". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  28. ^ Adelaja, Temilade; Sanni, Kazeem (6 June 2022). "Pain and horror follow massacre in Nigerian Catholic church". Reuters. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Owo Church Attack: Police recover 3 unexploded bombs". Vanguard News. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  30. ^ Adelaja, Temilade; Sanni, Kazeem (7 June 2022). "Police recover explosives following massacre in Nigerian Catholic church". Reuters. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  31. ^ Abuja, Reuters in (9 June 2022). "Islamic State affiliate suspected of Catholic church massacre, Nigeria says". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ "Nigeria Owo church attack: Blood on the altar". BBC News. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
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