By Adedotun Ajayi

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Mrs. Patience Ojuwku is one of the survivors who lost her only son in the massacre which occurred at Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo. Uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks. She was in an emotional breakdown when our reporter visited the family in Owo.  She was short of words.

Another survivor, Benjamin Ozumumba, who was seriously injured on both legs and was also receiving treatment at the FMC, Owo told our reporter how he lost his mother in the attack.

“When we first heard gunshots, We literally thought maybe somebody slammed the door, so we were less concerned about the sound. But when we heard it again, we then knew something was wrong, the first shot killed the man that sold sweet at the entrance of the church.

“It was the explosive that damaged my two legs and killed my beloved mother,” he stated  as  tears rolled down his face.

“I’ve never felt this kind of pain before. My mother died before my very eyes and I coulldn’t help her but managed to survive as well.

“For now, I don’t know if I will be attending church any more. I am still in shock and I don’t know if I can recover from this shock anytime soon.

“Although, I have not paid any bill ever since I have been admitted here but this free medical care won’t bring my mother back to me,” he lamented.

It was an ugly development that shook the ancient town along with the South-West and probably one which the residents will never forget in a hurry.

The town is still in a pensive mood with roads leading to the chapel deserted.

Residents and church members were seen in the church premises clustered in groups and discussing the unfortunate incident.

A security expert, who preferred anonymity was of the opinion that the attackers had extended their operations to owo.

According to him “you will recall that it was within the area that the late Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi was killed. Also there were attacks on Molege, Arimogija another neighboring town within that area. Now they are in Owo, if they are not checked, I won’t be surprised if they attack Akure soon” he said.

The recent attack that took place on Sunday morning when gunmen opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive device in the church, killing no fewer than 30 people and leaving many writhing in pain and agony at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, where they were taken  for medical attention.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday while on a  condolence visit to the Olowo of Owo over the attack said the perpetrators of the gruesome murder of parishioners, on Sunday will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He further expressed shock at the ugly development when he visited the Catholic Church to commiserate with the clergy, community and people of the State, a statement signed by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said.

The Vice President also visited those who were injured at St. Louis Catholic Hospital in the town.

Describing the unfortunate incident as a terrible tragedy and unspeakable evil by depraved minds and terrorists, Prof. Osinbajo noted that “the President has already ordered a full-scale investigation of this crime. Without any doubt, those who perpetrated this will be fished out and they will pay for the consequences of this crime.”

During his visit to the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, and accompanied by Governor Akeredolu; Prof. Osinbajo told the traditional ruler that his visit was on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, who sent his condolences.

Noting the President’s statement condemning the dastardly act, the Vice President added that, “this barbaric act is one that has to be condemned by all. But more importantly, we must find the perpetrators and they must be punished, and we must set an example.

“Anyone who will go into a place where there are children, elderly people and shoot them, throw explosives at them, cannot be dignified by their description as humans.”Expressing condolences to the traditional ruler, the entire community and people of the state, the Vice President said the Federal Government, through the security agencies, will ensure that the perpetrators are found and justice is done.

“This is the pledge that the Federal Government has made through the security agencies, that the perpetrators are found, and that we are able to discover exactly what it is that led to this situation in Owo, which, as you said, is a peaceful community that is not known for excessive behaviour. We need to investigate this thoroughly and find out exactly the situation,” he stated.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, on Monday, also visited Owo, and assured that he will support the government to find the attackers.

The former Lagos State governor said the security apparatus should be enhanced in tackling the current security challenges in the country.

Tinubu tasked government at all levels to ensure the protection of lives and property.

He prayed God to console the families of the deceased and grant the community and the state government the fortitude to bear the loss.

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, described the attack on the worshippers by unknown gunmen as  “madness”

According to the Bishop, who visited the scene of the incident said the attack was an indication that the country is at war.

Arogundade maintained that all over the world there is nowhere people will slaughter babies, children, husbands and wives worshipping on Pentecost day.

He added that those who were running out were shot from outside while those who were inside were shot inside.

“They threw dynamite at the altar to blow it down to the sanctuary. Only the evil ones are capable of such desecration.

“Probably what the rest of the world should know is that Nigeria is at war, and this type of war is geared towards civilians.

I’m not sure what point someone is trying to make with this kind of cruelty, but whatever point they were trying to make, they have failed miserably,” he said.

A visit to the emergency ward at the FMC, Owo, revealed survivors who have lost their loved ones and were severely injured.

Many of them could not hold back their tears and were unable to gather the composure to respond to questions posed to them by our reporter.

At the Church, Father Andrew Abayomi, when asked how the incident happened,  said, “I was in the sanctuary. That was at the end of the mass. When I heard the noise, I thought someone or a pew fell. Until I heard it the second time, then I realized that it was a gunshot. Some unknown gunmen had come to attack.

“Although I did not see them. The only thing I saw was that some of our members took the courage to close the door. There is a place behind the sanctuary where we were able to hide. It was later I gathered that the side door, where the choir stand is, was not locked. They came in through that door. They started shooting sporadically at those who were trying to escape and even used dynamite. I heard the sound myself,” he said

When asked how the assailants accessed the chapel, he said “From what I gathered, they parked their car outside the gate and trekked into the compound through the main gate.

“And from my calculations, they were here for about 20 minutes, without any intervention at that hour, They were just two that came in. One was with a gun, while the other one had a bag. Maybe it was that bag that contained the dynamite. People outside said there were about six attackers, but my members said that they saw two, Those ones that were lying down said maybe they were satisfied or short of ammunition. Then they left. So, not that they didn’t see them.

“This is Owaluwa but I heard that they took the direction of Uka when leaving,” he said.

According to the priest, over 200 members were in the church auditorium on that fateful day but he said that he could not give an exact figure of how many people were killed.

When asked if anybody has reached out to them, he said “we have the security agencies, that same day, the governor himself came to mourn with us, the Vice President also and myself personally some hours ago went to check on the survivors at St. Louis and FMC.

When asked if he will be attending church service for now, he said “Like I told someone, if you really understand what the Christian life is, you are another Christ. That means you have to continue witnessing until you die. The sacrament of confirmation gives you the Holy Spirit to enable you keep witnessing until you die. I cannot renounce it. What will be my gain if I renounce it?

“We will continue to rely on the divine which has given us capacity as humans to bring in our human elements and help. Security challenge is our problem and we need to tackle it. We need to secure our environment individually and as a nation. That is if we want to really let it work. It’s the work of everybody. We can tackle insecurity,” he said.

Another survivor, Emmanuel Esho, altar servant at the Chapel, said he ran into the inner room when he saw the unmasked attackers, then someone tried to escape from the entrance when the gunmen started shooting sporadically.

His words: “I had to hide in the wardrobe where we keep our robes, I’m still traumatized from that scene, when I close my eyes, that’s all I see, I pray God cleanse my mind and bring me peace, because I can not do it on my own”.

Since yesterday, the ancient town of Owo has become a mecca of sort as various notable personalities continue to throng the city. Spirited Nigerians have also visited the FMC, Owo and UNIMED in Akure to donate blood for the wounded needing blood transfusion.

Also, condemnation has begun to trail the attack as royal fathers, spiritual leaders and political leaders have described the development as an affront on the Yoruba race and a sacrilege to the household of faith.