Fikayo Okoeye

ABUJA, Reuters – Gunmen broke into a Catholic church in Nigeria’s Ondo state on Sunday and left at least 50 dead and many others hurt. A local doctor told Reuters that the attackers were also targeting religious institutions.

A doctor in Owo (a state in Nigeria’s southwest) told Reuters about 50 bodies being transported to Owo FMC (NYSE:] (Federal Medical Center), and St. Louis Catholic Hospital.

The attack was condemned by President Muhammadu Buhari, who called it “heinous”. It was unclear at this time who the attackers were and what their motives might have been.

Local media reported that gunmen fired on worshippers and set off explosives inside the church. Children and women were also among the victims.

Funmilayo Ibukun Odunlami was the spokesperson for Ondo police and stated that an incident occurred at Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, but added that police would soon issue another statement.

Africa’s largest country was subject to ransom demands and attacked by armed groups, mostly from its northwest. In southwestern Nigeria, such attacks are uncommon.

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, cut short his trip to Abuja to investigate the attack and returned to Ondo. He stated in a statement that he would use all resources to track down the attackers and force them to pay.