There have been reactions and comments from various quarters condemning the heinous crime to humanity perpetrated by bandits who invaded St. Francis Catholic Church on Sunday.
Leading in this pack is the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari who expressed shock and sadness over the heinous killing of the worshippers, saying eternal sorrow awaited those behind the killing, both here on earth and in the hereafter.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “Only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act, and eternal sorrow awaits them both on earth here, and ultimately in the hereafter.
“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win.”
Mourning the dead, President Buhari condoled with the families of the victims, the Catholic Church, and the government of Ondo State, charging emergency agencies to swing into action, and bring succour to the wounded.”
Also in his own response the state governor who is also an indigene of Owo Condemning the attack, Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State, who said he had who cut short his national assignment at his All Progressives Congress’s primary elections in Abuja, vowed to make the perpetrators pay for the dastardly act.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said: “We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolve to rid our state of criminals.
“Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people of Owo, worshiping at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-Iuwa Street, on Sunday.
“The vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom, who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
“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.
“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is currently on his way to Owo. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, we shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolve to rid our state of criminals.
“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack.
“I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.
“I urge our people to remain calm and vigilant. Do not take laws into your hands. I have spoken to the heads of the security agencies. I have equally been assured that security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom.”
On Sunday gunmen suspected to be bandits entered St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-Luwa, Owo, the birthplace of Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and opened guns on the defenceless worshippers and killed them in their numbers.
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