Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has sympathised with his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu and the people of the state over the Sunday’s killing of worshippers at a Catholic church in Owo.
Worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church at Owa-luwa Street, Owo, were attacked and killed by gunmen during service.
Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the attack as callous, inhuman and despicable.
He sympathised with the people of Ondo State, especially the residents of Owo, and members of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa.
According to him, it is crime against humanity to open fire on worshippers on Sunday morning, killing scores of people.
The governor, who also commiserated with the Catholic Church of Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the ugly incident.
”On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I commiserate with Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Government and the entire people of the state, over the tragic loss caused by the attack and killings of worshippers by the evil men this morning.
”Attacking a congregation and shedding innocent blood during a divine service in the temple of God is condemnable as it is a crime against humanity.
”It is barbaric, callous and despicable crime for any man to attack and kill worshippers or any fellow man in a manner the yet-to-be-identified gunmen carried out the heinous crime in the Catholic Church this morning.
”Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and the Christian community and the people of Owo, as well as the entire people of Ondo State, who are affected by this unfortunate incident,” he said.
Amaechi too…
On his part, a former minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, also condemned the attack on innocent worshippers in Owo, Ondo State.
Amaechi, in a statement by his media office on Sunday in Abuja, commiserated with the affected families, the church, people of Owo community, and the Government of Ondo state.
He described the incident as an absolutely vile and senseless murder of innocent citizens.
The former governor of Rivers and one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of All Progressives Congress urged security agencies to collaborate and fish out the perpetrators.
“I feel so sad that these criminals are so emboldened to carry out these barbaric attacks on the people in the broad daylight.
”Our security agencies have to put heads together and smoke out these monsters and ensure they are punished, immobilised and totally flushed out.
“They must also in partnership with our government, step up intelligence work round the clock to nip such acts of terror in the bud.
”I pray for the families, the church, the people and the Government of Ondo state to find strength in the midst of the sorrow and pain,” Amaechi added.
NMA intervenes
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on its members in Ondo State and environs to mobilise themselves to participate in the treatment of the people injured in Sunday’s Catholic church attack in Owo.
The NMA President, Dr Uche Ojinmah, made the call on Sunday in a statement following gunmen’s attack on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo.
He also called on Nigerians in the affected area of the state to go to the hospitals where the injured were being treated to donate blood to save lives.
Ojinmah said NMA received with shock and sadness the dastardly attack on innocent worshippers.
”The recurrent shedding of innocent blood in our dear country has been going on for far too long.
”It is the position of the NMA that explanations, condemnations and reassurances are no longer comforting.
”The NMA commiserates with the government and good people of Ondo State over the loss of lives and prays for the quick recovery of those injured”, he said.
Ojinmah called for quick intervention by various levels of government and security agencies to protect the lives and property of Nigerians in every part of the nation.