Gunmen struck again in Ondo, killing six persons.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Barely three days after 40 worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, were killed by suspected terrorists during morning mass, six persons were reportedly shot dead by suspected bandits in Ondo town, Ondo state on Wednesday night.
Vanguard quoted police source as stating that the bandit stormed Sabi area in Ondo town on motorcycles and shot the victims at close range.
It was gathered that the victims were road side traders in the town. The bandits reportedly robbed residents of the area before they took off.
Another source said that the gunmen were armed robbers who attempted to rob residence and traders in the area
Contacted, the state Police image maker, Funmi Odunlami confirmed the killings. Odunlami promised to give full details via a Statement later.
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Gunmen had on Sunday, attacked Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, the headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State during mass.
The attack on the church in Owo, the hometown of the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, came barely a week after the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Bishop Samuel Kanu-Uche, was kidnapped in Abia State by gunmen the priest later identified as Fulani youths.
According The Punch, the gunmen, who attacked the Catholic Church, arrived at the premises, which is less than 200 metres from the palace of the Olowo of Owo, at 12pm when the Sunday mass was being rounded off.
It was gathered that worshippers, mostly children and women, were killed in the attack, by gunmen, who were said to have thrown an improvised explosive device before they started shooting sporadically.
Workers of the Federal Medical Centre and Saint Louis Hospital, both in Owo, where the dead and the injured were taken to, stated that a total of 35 people were brought in dead. The toll later rose.
Residents claimed that the attack was carried out by gunmen who disguised as worshippers before entering the church’s premises.