Explosion in Owo, Ondo State church, police rises to situation

By OUR REPORTER

An explosion has been recorded on the premises of St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo township of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, just while the mass was ongoing on Sunday.

Reportedly, the explosion claimed lives of worshipers but details of the incident could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

Not too long to the incident, the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, said the attack, in which it claimed church worshippers were murdered, was a direct attack on Yoruba race.

Its National organising secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, said that “the massacre in Owo Chatholic church is a direct attack on Yoruba land.

“It is directed at Gov Rotimi Akeredolu for his unfliching support for security in Yoruba land by championing the Amatekun security outfits, his strigent upholding of the open gracing law and for his ” big mouth” about Southern co-operation for equity and justice in Nigeria.

“We will not succumb into terrorist threath or attack, they will not be allowed to bring down our civilisation.

Although the incident was confirmed by the Ondo State Police Command, people were warned against saying things that they know nothing about and wait for the outcome of investigations into the issue.

In a telephone interview with The DEFENDER Sunday afternoon, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Funmilayo Odunlami, said: “Yes, there was an attack but we want to know what exactly happened first before we can say anything.  We have been hearing and reading so many stories on the social media. We want to tell the people that we are aware of the incident and that all our security apparatuses have been activated just to ensure peace in that area.

“By the time we get to the root of matter, we will get back to the public.  We have actually deployed EOD there, but we cannot right now say what really happened,” DSP Odunlami said.

Reacting to Afenifere’s claim of the attack being a direct attack on Yoruba race, the Police Spokeswoman called for caution saying, “Like I said, the police do not just want to jump into conclusion.”