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LAGOS, Nigeria (AFP) — Gunmen who attacked a Catholic church on Sunday with explosives in southwest Nigeria killed at the least 21 worshippers, together with some youngsters, native officers mentioned.
The violence in St Francis Catholic Church in Owo city throughout a Sunday service prompted worldwide condemnation after a uncommon assault in Nigeria’s often safer southwestern area.
Richard Olatunde, spokesman for the Ondo State governor’s workplace, advised AFP that dynamite exploded contained in the church earlier than gunmen opened hearth.
“They didn’t even enter the church, they had been capturing by means of the home windows,” he mentioned, confirming a dying toll of 21 folks.
Nationwide Emergency Administration Company native consultant Olanrewaju Kadiri mentioned 22 folks had been killed, together with a number of youngsters.
No group instantly claimed accountability for the assault and the motives weren’t clear.
One witness advised AFP he noticed at the least 5 gunmen on the church premises throughout the assault.
President Muhammadu Buhari condemned “heinous killing of worshippers” whereas Pope Francis provided prays for the victims.
The UN Particular Consultant for West Africa and the Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, condemned what he referred to as a “barbaric terrorist assault.”
Nigeria continues to be combating a 12-year-long jihadist insurgency in its northeast and closely armed felony gangs usually perform raids and mass kidnappings within the northwest.
However giant assaults within the nation’s southwest are comparatively uncommon though kidnappings have develop into more and more widespread.
Boko Haram jihadists within the northeast have focused church buildings previously. The battle has killed 40,000 and displaced two million extra.
© Agence France-Presse
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