Gunmen on Sunday June 5 attacked a Catholic church in Ondo state, southwestern Nigeria, killing "many" worshipers during the Pentecost mass, according to the government and the police.

The attack occurred during morning service at St Francis Catholic Church in the town of Owo in southwestern Nigeria, usually untouched by jihadists and criminal gangs active in other parts of Nigeria. country.

Responsibility for the attack has not been claimed.

His motives and toll were not immediately known, but President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the "heinous killing of worshippers".

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his statement called on security forces to find the attackers after this "despicable and satanic attack".

According to state police spokeswoman Ibukun Odunlami, they attacked the church with firearms and explosives.

"It is still early to say exactly how many people were killed. But many worshipers lost their lives while others were injured in the attack," she told AFP.

At least 5 armed men 

A witness, who gave only his first name, Abayomi, told AFP that at least 20 worshipers died in the attack.

"I was passing through the neighborhood when I heard a loud explosion and gunshots inside the church," he said.

He said he saw at least five armed men inside the church before fleeing to safety.

Pope Francis, for his part, deplored the killing of "dozens of the faithful" in this Catholic church, claiming to pray for the victims.

"The Pope has learned of the attack (which occurred) at the church of Ondo, in Nigeria, and the death of dozens of faithful, including many children, during the celebration of Pentecost", indicated the press service of the Vatican in a statement.

“As the details of the incident are being clarified, Pope Francis prays for the victims and for the country, painfully affected during a moment of celebration, and entrusts them to the Lord, so that he sends his Spirit to comfort them," he added.

The Nigerian army is deployed on many fronts in an attempt to curb insecurity in the country.

A jihadist insurgency has been raging for 12 years in the northeast, gangs of looters and kidnappers terrorize the northwest and center, while the southeast is the scene of separatist movements.

With AFP

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