OWO, Nigeria (AP) – Gunmen who killed 50 people in a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria opened fire on worshipers both inside and outside the building in a coordinated attack before fleeing the site, authorities and witnesses said Monday.
Although Nigerian security forces have not yet identified who carried out Sunday’s attack on St. Francis Church in the city of Owo, in the relatively peaceful state of Ondo, analysts have suggested who came from other parts of the West African nation, which is plagued by the violence of various armed groups. , kidnappers and extremists.
No one has claimed responsibility for the church’s killings, in which children were among the dead and gunmen used some form of explosive.
“The attack is certainly of a terrorist nature, and the scale and brutality suggest that it was carefully planned rather than driven,” said Eric Humphery-Smith, Africa’s senior analyst at the company. Verisk Maplecroft Risk Intelligence
State police commissioner Oyeyemi Oyediran said security forces, including the army, were pursuing the attackers, “but unfortunately we were unable to catch up.”
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with a population of 206 million, has been fighting for more than a decade with an uprising in the northeast by Islamic extremist rebels from Boko Haram and its branch, the province of Africa. Western Islamic State. Extremists, who have killed more than 35,000 people at a UN count, are fighting to establish Shariah law and stop Western education.
Ondo, however, has long been considered one of the safest states in the country.
Sunday Adewale, who works at the local chief’s palace, said gunmen used the surprise element to their advantage.
“Everyone felt relaxed and had gone to church,” he said. “In 30 minutes, they did what they wanted and left.”
The attack took place while the faithful were celebrating the feast of Pentecost, a major Catholic holiday after Easter. Bishop Jude Arogundade said some gunmen entered the church while others stayed outside to shoot anyone fleeing.
Steven Omotayo, who lives nearby, heard the shots and rushed to the scene.
“I saw a lot of dead bodies, both young and old, even children,” he said. “People came in and started firing from the door.”
He said the church has three entrances and that the main entrance was said to be locked, making it difficult for many to escape.
“They were just shooting. If they see someone trying to escape or get up, they’ll just shoot him,” he said. “Everyone standing was bombed with bullets.”
The Rev. Vincent Anadi said gunmen also fired some sort of explosive or grenade.
Many Nigerians expressed shock and anger at the attack on Owo, a small town of traders and government workers located 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the capital of Ondo State, Akure. The central location of the church raised questions about how the gunmen got there unnoticed.
Rahaman Yusuf said many people tried to find out the fate of their relatives after the attack. “Some just realized they were dead,” he said, adding that they also went to hospitals to see if their loved ones were among the injured.
Workers at Owo Federal Medical Center fought to treat numerous injured in the attack. The Medical Association of Nigeria directed all available doctors in the region to help.
Some of the injured were in “very poor condition” and needed surgery, according to a doctor there who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
“I’ve seen a lot of casualties, but what I saw yesterday goes far beyond what I’ve seen before in my life,” the doctor said. “This calamity affected all age levels, from young children to adults.”
Blood supplies to the hospital were depleted and more has been requested, the doctor added.
Mahamat Saleh Annadif, head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, described the incident as a “barbaric terrorist attack” and said he hoped that “the perpetrators of this horrific terrorist act against a church are arrested and brought to justice quickly. ”
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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria