The aftermath of the Sunday morning attacked at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, headquaters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have resulted in the killing of over 50 members of the congregation, during the church service.
It was gathered that no fewer than 50 corpses have been moved out of the church with several casualties still lying in various state of health at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, to obtain medical attention.
According to sources, unacceptable number of gunmen invaded the church during holy mass and opened fire on the congregation, killing no fewer than 50 persons.
The sources stated that the congregation were caught unaware, adding that the casualty might be more as some worshippers who were taken to the hospital have given up due to severe injuries they sustained.
It was also gathered that the gunmen equally detonated some explosives within the church premises, but added that more number of casualties were recorded when the allailants opened fire on people who were scampering for safety inside the church auditorium.
The perpetrators were said to have immediately fled the scene after they had carried out the killing, and left many people dead.
It was observed from a video making the round that some dead bodies were seen soaked with blood inside the church, while sympathisers, who probably were also in the church when it happened, were speaking in staccato voices.
A nurse at the Owo hospital disclosed there were paucity of medical personnel on ground at the hospital when the victims were brought in and the duty to attend to the casualties at the emergency unit of the hospital became so overwhelming that some of the casualties had to be taken to nearby private hospitals.
Further details later as the tragedy unfolds:
