Following the gruesome murder of worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, by suspected gunmen, the Police Command in Ondo State has deployed anti-bomb squad to the scene of the incident.
The Police Command, in a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami, said officers are making efforts to arrest those responsible for the attack.
She urged residents to be calm as the necessary security apparatus had been moved in to ensure the security of lives and property.
“All effort is underway to arrest those responsible for this evil,” the statement noted.
Officials are yet to ascertain the casualty figure but witnesses said at least 70 people were injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to residents of the state to donate blood to help save the lives of survivors of the mass shooting at St. Francis Catholic Church.
NMA Chairperson in the state, Stella Adegbehingbe, made the appeal while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on the situation in Owo where the incident took place.
“They need blood,” she said.
“So, we are telling the public to please go to the teaching hospital in Akure. We are collecting blood from the public so that we can quickly send it to them. They need blood!”
Mrs Adegbehingbe said the hospitals in Owo also need urgent supplies of surgical tools, apart from blood donation.
She said some medical personnel were having difficulty getting to hospitals in Owo because of many security checkpoints.
Recall that it was a black Sunday in Ondo State when unknown gunmen stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church and attacked worshippers during church service.
In a video previously posted by The New Diplomat, many lifeless bodies were seen littering the inside of the church with blood stains splattered everywhere.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and many top Nigerians have condemned the attack.
