Gunmen have killed worshippers in a Catholic church in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria, the state’s governor has said.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said it was “vile and satanic attack” on innocent people.
The armed men entered the church, Saint Francis Xavier, in the town of Owo, during a Sunday service.
Nigeria has experienced an upsurge in violence in recent months, with kidnappings and attacks being reported across the vast country.
There are reports that the gunmen in Ondo also kidnapped several worshippers on Sunday. No figures for the numbers killed or abducted have been confirmed.
In a series of tweets, Governor Akeredolu appealed for calm and said people should not “take laws into your hands”.
“Security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom,” he added.
Many people have been killed in an apparent terror attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State in southwest Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses said the St. Francis Catholic Church located on Owa-luwa Street in Owo was attacked by gunmen, who first opened fire on worshippers on Sunday morning before detonating an explosive device in the church.
Owo is the hometown of the state governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr Kehinde Ogunkorode, said there were a lot of casualties on the church premises, which is not far away from the palace of Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye,
Mr Ogunkorode also claimed that some priests and church members were abducted by the gunmen.
Governor Akeredolu described the attack as a “satanic” and “calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo”.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo,” the governor said, adding that he cut short his stay in Abuja for the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress to return to the state.
“Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, we shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.” -BBC
