The Bishop of Ondo Diocese said on Tuesday that 38 people were confirmed dead in the Sunday terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Diocesan Bishop, Jude Arogundade revealed this.
Gunmen attacked the church on Owa-Luwa Street in Owo, the hometown of State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on Sunday, killing several parishioners and injuring many more.
However, Arogundade stated that the diocese has been able to identify 38 victims.
He did, however, say that some families picked up the bodies of their loved ones, something the diocese could not account for.
He said, “People have been asking me about the figure of those who died. The figure that we can account for presently is 38.
“But we know that many people were taken to private hospitals. Even some people came to take the bodies of their loved ones. We are trying to trace those people so that we can have a recount for all.
Meanwhile, a source in the church told The PUNCH that the diocese may consider mass burial for the victims of the massacre as some bodies had not been identified and claimed by their relatives since the incident happened.
The source, however, said a final decision has not been reached on the date and other burial arrangements.
He said, “There are plans to give mass burial to those who lost their lives in the Sunday attack. The decision was taken due to the nature of their deaths. So we have to bury them instead for them to just be in the morgue for a long time.
“Those that will be given mass burial are those whose bodies could not be identified by anyone. Definitely, when the necessary arrangements have been concluded, the church will notify the public on when the mass burial will be done.”
Meanwhile, Akeredolu stated that the attack killed 22 individuals.
He stated that the attack affected 80 persons, 22 of whom died, and that 56 survivors are being treated at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, St Louis Hospital, Owo, and the Owo General Hospital, as well as other private facilities.
This was stated by Akeredolu during a national broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday.
He said, “The total number of people involved was 80. As of now, 56 are on admission, two discharged, while the death toll is 22. Efforts have been deepened to prevent further casualties.
“The site, that is, St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo presents a gory war-like scene. The Federal Medical Centre, Owo, the St. Louis Hospital, Owo, the General Hospital, Owo as well as some private hospitals in Owo were filled with the injured, most of who were in critical conditions.
“The most unfortunate part is the lives of innocent children cut down in their prime and some severely injured by the mindless attackers. At Owo, the anger was palpable. The tension was at an abrasive level just as the urge for reprisals was high. Without a doubt too, the ripple impact of this heinous act as well as the understandably angry reaction across the state could not have been different.
“I urge our people to be calm but remain vigilant. Do not take the law into your own hands. Leave the rest for government to shoulder.”Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation said it would support the state government with emergency trauma materials to help it recover from the terror attack.
The WHO Country Representative and Head of Mission, Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, stated this when he led his team to visit Akeredolu.
“The World Health Organisation is committed to supporting your state to respond to all-hazard and emergencies, including following up of such unfortunate incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned the attack.
He called on the authorities to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
According to a statement by the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, on Tuesday, Guterres emphasized that attacks on places of worship are abhorrent.
The statement read, “The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the heinous attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5 that resulted in the death and injuries to scores of civilians as people gathered for the Pentecost service.
“The Secretary-General emphasizes that attacks on places of worship are abhorrent. He urges the Nigerian authorities to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
