Over 50 feared useless after gunmen assault worshippers at church in Nigeria

Gunmen opened fireplace on worshippers and detonated explosives at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday, leaving dozens feared useless, state lawmakers stated.

The attackers focused the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo state simply because the worshippers gathered on Pentecost Sunday, legislator Ogunmolasuyi Oluwole stated. Among the useless had been many kids, he stated.

The presiding priest was kidnapped as properly, stated Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo space in Nigeria’s decrease legislative chamber.

“Our hearts are heavy,” Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu tweeted Sunday. “Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people.”

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Authorities did not immediately release an official death toll. Timileyin said at least 50 people had been killed, though others put the figure higher. Videos appearing to be from the scene of the attack showed church worshippers lying in pools of blood while people around them wailed.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said “only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act,” according to a statement from his spokesman.

“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win,” said Buhari, who was elected after vowing to end Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack on the church. While much of Nigeria has struggled with security issues, Ondo is widely known as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states. The state, though, has been caught up in a rising violent conflict between farmers and herders.

Nigeria’s security forces did not immediately respond to questions about how the attack occurred or if there are any leads about suspects. Owo is about 345 kilometers (215 miles) east of Lagos.

“In the history of Owo, we have never experienced such an ugly incident,” stated lawmaker Oluwole. “This is an excessive amount of.

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