By staff reporters and Vatican News
GUNMEN opened fire on worshippers and detonated explosives at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday, killed more than 50 people, including several children.
As the Church celebrated Pentecost Sunday, gunmen entered St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, and opened fire on worshippers.
The attackers also set off explosives during the attack.
Lethal attacks by gangs are rare in southwestern Nigeria. Such attacks are more widespread in parts of the country’s north, that are constantly under siege by Boko Haram terrorists and marauding gunmen known locally as ‘bandits.’
The Owo church attack comes one week after another church tragedy, when 31 people were killed and others injured during a stampede at a church event in the southeastern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt.
In response to the attack in Owo, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with the victims and sent his prayers.
The Pope “prays for the victims and for the country, painfully attacked at a time of celebration, and he entrusts everyone to the Lord, that God might send His Spirit to console them,” Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office said.
Local doctors told Reuters news agency that at least 50 people were killed in the attack.
Dozens of others were wounded and taken to hospitals in Owo. Doctors have appealed for blood donations on social media.
Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, of the Diocese of Ondo, expressed his closeness to the victims and their families, according to Fr. Augustine Ikwu, the Communications Director for the diocese.
Fr. Ikwu said fears are rising that many more people may die from their wounds, and lamented that the Church had been “violated.”
He denied initial reports on social media that the attackers had kidnapped the priest and other members of the congregation.
“All the priests in the parish are safe and none was kidnapped,” said Fr. Ikwu in a press release.
“The bishop of the Diocese is also with them at this trying time.”
Fr. Ikwu said the identity of the attackers remains unknown, but that Nigerian security forces have been deployed to the area surrounding the church.
He also invoked God’s help to restore “peace and tranquility” in the country.
“We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost in this distressing incident and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace,” he said.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed condolences for the families of the victims, and ordered emergency agencies to assist the injured.
“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win,” the president said.