The solemnity of Sunday worship at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo, Ondo State was disrupted by deafening explosions and sporadic gun shots in the early hours of today.
The bizarre explosion which tore through the church premises left scores of worshippers in a pool of blood, many dead and others wounded.
PRESENT reporters who visited the scene said charred bodies of the victims littered the sanctuary while loud groans of the injured rent the air.
Also captured in the ensuing commotion are wailing sympathisers and a large crowd of bystanders, some taking pictures of the tragic scene.
It was indeed, a bloody Sunday in Owo, the hometown of the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who has been championing the ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria.
Who bombed the Church in Owo? PRESENT learnt that explosion was detonated by a gang of gun toting, fierce looking men suspected to be fulani herdsmen.
Apart from the ban on open grazing, Akeredolu also spearheaded the setting up of the South West Security Network, Amotekun, which has been the nemesis of fulani herders who flout the anti open grazing law in the state.
Amotekun has arrested hundreds of cows found grazing in the open and the organisation has foiled several kidnapping attempts, allegedly masterminded by the Fulani herdsmen.
Those who attacked the church in Owo today came as worshippers.
PRESENT confirmed that the bandits did not come with vehicles. Rather, they hijacked a vehicle on the road to facilitate their escape after unleashing terror on the church.
The owner of the hijacked vehicle had gone to Owo A. Division to report his encounter with the gang.
It also was reported that a Reverend Father was kidnapped after the explosions.
Palpable fear has descended on the ancient town of Owo as it’s major roads had been deserted.
While Nigerians await detailed accounts from the state police command, what is fearful now is that the bandits are now in the South West.
