OWO, Nigeria (AP) – Gunmen who killed 50 people at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria opened fire on worshipers both inside and outside the building in a coordinated attack before fleeing the scene, authorities and witnesses said Monday.
Although Nigerian security forces have not yet identified who carried out Sunday’s attack on St. Mary’s Church. Francis in the town of Ovo in the relatively quiet state of Ondo, analysts suggest they came from elsewhere in the West African nation, which is plagued by violence by various armed groups, kidnappers and extremists.
No one has claimed responsibility for church killings in which children were killed and gunmen used explosives.
“The attack is undoubtedly terrorist in nature, and the scale and brutality suggest it was carefully planned, not impulsive,” said Eric Humfery-Smith, senior analyst for Africa at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
State Police Commissioner Oyemi Oediran said security forces, including the military, were pursuing the attackers, “but unfortunately we could not catch up.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with 206 million people, has been battling a riot in the northeast of Islamic extremist insurgents from Boko Haram and its offspring, Islamic State, a province of West Africa, for more than a decade. The extremists, who killed more than 35,000 people according to the UN census, are fighting to establish sharia law and halt Western education.
However, Ondo has long been considered one of the safest states in the country.
Sandy Adewell, who works at the local chief’s palace, said the gunmen used the element of surprise to their advantage.
“Everyone felt calm and went to church,” he said. “Within 30 minutes, they did what they wanted and left.”
The attack came as pilgrims celebrated Pentecost, an important Catholic holiday after Easter. Bishop Jude Arogundaid said some gunmen entered the church, while others stayed outside to shoot anyone who escaped.
Stephen Omotayo, who lives nearby, heard gunshots and rushed to the scene.
“I saw a lot of dead bodies – young and old, even children,” he said. “People came in and started firing from the gate.”
He said the church has three entrances and the main entrance is said to be locked, making it difficult for many to escape.
“It simply came to our notice then. “If they see someone trying to escape or stand up, they will just shoot the person,” he said. “Everyone standing was bombarded.”
The Rev. Vincent Anadi said the gunmen also detonated some sort of explosive or grenade.
Many Nigerians have expressed shock and anger at the attack in Ovo, a small town of merchants and government officials 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital, Ondo Akure. The central location of the church raised questions about how the gunmen got there unnoticed.
Rahaman Yusuf said many people had tried to understand the fate of their relatives after the attack. “Some came just to find out they were dead,” he said, adding that they also went to hospitals to see if their loved ones were among the injured.
Workers at the Federal Medical Center in Ovo struggled to treat dozens injured in the attack. The Nigerian Medical Association has directed all available doctors in the region to help.
Some of the injured were in “very poor condition” and needed surgery, according to a doctor there, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
“I used a lot of victims, but what I saw yesterday was far beyond anything I’ve seen before in my life,” the doctor said. “This disaster has befallen all ages, from young children to adults.”
The blood supply at the hospital has run out and a request for more has been issued, the doctor added.
Mahamat Saleh Anadif, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, described the incident as a “barbaric terrorist attack” and said he hoped “the perpetrators of this horrific terrorist act against the church will be caught quickly and brought to justice.”
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Assad reported from Abuja, Nigeria
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