Ondo Church Massacre. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, the Inspector-General of Police, has strongly condemned the brutal murder of innocent Nigerians at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owaluwa in Owo, Ondo State.
In a statement issued by CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, the Force Public Relations Officer, gunmen who are yet to be identified carried out the attack around 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
According to Adejobi, preliminary investigations revealed that the gunmen invaded the church with arms and materials suspected to be explosives.
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The statement reads; “Police Investigators who were part of the First Responders deployed to the scene have recovered pellets of expended AK-47 ammunition while the Explosive Ordnance Devices – Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosives (EOD-CBRNE) unit confirmed the use of Explosives as fragments of the IEDs used were found and after thorough sweeping of the scene, 3 unexploded IEDs were recovered at the scene of the incident.”
“Further investigations revealed that some of the gunmen disguised as congregants, while other armed men who had positioned themselves around the church premises from different directions, fired into the church.”
He also revealed that the assailants used a stolen vehicle to carry out the dastardly act.
He said, “the assailants fled the scene using a Nissan Sunny car with Reg No. AKR 895 AG which was snatched from the owner, and escaped through Owo/Ute road. The vehicle has been recovered while the owner of the vehicle is currently assisting the Police in its investigations.”
The IGP has ordered a complete inquiry into the incident in order to bring those responsible for the horrible killings of churchgoers to justice.
The IGP has also ordered the deployment of Police EOD-CBRNE specialized operatives, police experts, and other tactical units from Force Headquarters for a thorough investigation and immediate interception of the Villians.
Source: Nigerian Police Force HQ.
