“Nigeria will eventually win,” says Buhari after terrorists attacked a Catholic Church in Ondo State, killing many.
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday described the killing of worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo Kingdom, in Ondo State as a heinous crime.
His condemnation of the atrocious massacre of innocent citizens who went to Church to worship God is coming on the heels of the statement by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also on Sunday described the attack as callous, inhuman and despicable act.
Buhari, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, apart from condemning the incident said only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act.
According to him, eternal sorrow awaits the perpetrators of the bad act both on earth, and ultimately in the hereafter.
President Buhari mourned the dead, condoled with their families, the Catholic Church, and the Government of Ondo State, charging emergency agencies to swing into action, and bring succour to the wounded.
Buhari submitted that: “No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win.”
On his part, Sanwo-Olu commiserated with his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and the State Government, over the attack and killing of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church at Owa-luwa Street, Owo in Ondo State by unknown gunmen on Sunday.
Sanwo-Olu, who described the attack as callous, inhuman and despicable act, also sympathised with the people of Ondo State, especially the residents of Owo, Governor Akeredolu’s hometown and members of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa.
Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, condemned the attack by the gunmen, saying it is crime against humanity to open fire on worshippers on Sunday morning killing scores of people.
READ ALSO: Akeredolu vows to hunt down gunmen who attacked Catholic Church in Ondo
The Governor, who also commiserated with the Catholic Church of Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the ugly incident.
He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I commiserate with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Government and the entire people of the State over the tragic loss in the state caused by the attack and killings of worshippers by the evil men this morning.
“Attacking a congregation and shedding innocent blood during a divine service in the temple of God is condemnable as it is a crime against humanity. It is barbaric, callous and despicable crime for any man to attack and kill worshippers or any fellow man in a manner the yet-to-be-identified gunmen carried out the heinous crime in the Catholic Church this morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and the Christian community and the people of Owo as well as the entire people of Ondo State, who are affected by this unfortunate incident.”
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the attack and killing of worshipers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, on Sunday.
A statement by Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami, said “the Commissioner of Police, Oyeyemi Oyediran, has deployed men of the Explosives Ordinance Device unit also known as Anti Bomb Squad to the scene while all effort is being intensified to arrest those who perpetrated this evil.
“The Ondo State Police Command is aware of the attack at Owo, we will give you the full details of the incident later. We want to implore the people of the state to be calm as all security apparatus is currently active to ensure Peace in this area”, the statement added.
