Temilade Adelaja & Seun Sann

OWO Nigeria (Reuters). Survivors of an attack in Nigeria on a Catholic parish were left weeping in pain after being treated for what a doctor described to be lacerations, bullet wounds, and blast injuries.

Media reports claim that at least 50 people, including children, were murdered in the attack on St Francis Catholic Church of Owo. It occurred as churchgoers were celebrating Pentecost Sunday mass. Police are yet to provide a final figure.

Alex Michael said that they immediately entered the room and began firing on everyone. Alex Michael was also shot in his leg. His children were protected by him hiding them underneath chairs. As he lay on the hospital bed, he appeared confused.

He was surrounded by other survivors with bloodstained bandages covering their legs. A man lay on his back, mumbling and grunting while another woman embraced her brother. Unmarried, a 15-year old victim lay in silence with a drip in one hand.

According to Dr Samuel Aluko (a hospital registrar), 27 adults were being treated in the department for various injuries. Some of these were potentially life-threatening. According to him, one woman had lost her both legs.

Doctor Ahmed Lasu stated that thirteen children were taken to hospital and two of these kids died on their arrival.

Owo can be found in the Ondo State of southwest Nigeria. This is a region that doesn’t often see violent religious conflict. The motive and identity of the attackers have not been revealed by authorities.

BLOOD SOAKED BODY

Jude Ayodeji Arogundade was the Catholic bishop for the Ondo diocese. He said that he ran to the church shortly after the attack.

“It was far beyond anything I had ever imagined.” “There were many bodies in that church. It was bloody,” he said to AIT television.

Pope Francis, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Pope Francis were both among those that expressed their horror Sunday.

Arakunrin Akeredolu is the Governor of Ondo State. He ordered Monday that state flags should remain at half mast for seven days.

Bola Tinubu (ex-governor of Lagos State) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (vice president), were both present at Owo for their condolences.

Numerous shops in the area were closed. The streets were manned by security personnel and the helicopters hovered overhead.

Southwest Nigeria’s Yoruba people are mostly Christians and Muslims. They cohabit peacefully.

Owo residents claimed that some people blamed the massacre at the church on the Hausa Fulani ethnic group. They are predominantly Muslim, and live in northern Nigeria with other communities.

None of the state or police authorities has yet to blame any particular group.

Recent years have seen an increase in violence between Fulani herdsmen who want land for their cattle and farmers from other ethnic backgrounds trying to defend their lands.

Fulani herdsmen have moved further south due to increasing population growth and the increasing drought in northern Nigeria. This has led to tensions about land use and increased tensions.