On Sunday afternoon, four gunmen stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church in the Nigerian town of Owo, killing over 70 people and leaving dozens severely wounded. The assailants targeted worshippers both inside and outside the church with gunfire and explosives. Though the motive is not yet known or has yet to be disclosed, the attack could signify the expansion of Islamist groups from the northwest to the relatively peaceful southwestern region.
Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Akeredolu described it as a “black Sunday,” condemning the “vile and satanic attack” and pledging to “commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay.” He urged citizens to “remain calm” and avoid vigilantism.
I want to express my condolences to those who lost their dear ones to this gruesome murder. This is a great massacre.
— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) June 5, 2022
Our people in Ondo state will not let down their guard. This will not happen again. I have urged the Heads of Security agencies to take all necessary steps. pic.twitter.com/OpDqsZ7Zfg
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari denounced the “heinous attack,” saying, “No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light.”
The incident also received the attention of the Vatican, with Pope Francis saying the worshippers were “painfully stricken in a moment of celebration” as they gathered to mark Pentecost Sunday.
In a similar vein, Catholic Church spokesperson Reverend Augustine Ikwu said that it was “so sad,” as the “unknown gunmen” attacked the church “while the Holy Mass was going on.”
President Buhari mourns the dead, condoles with their families, the Catholic Church, and the Government of Ondo State, charging emergency agencies to swing into action, and bring succor to the wounded.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) June 5, 2022
Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, a legislator from Ondo’s state assembly, further lamented that many of those killed were children.
State police spokesperson Ibukun Odunlami said that it is difficult to ascertain the death toll and no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
However, local lawmaker Adeyemi Olayemi alleged that the attack was likely carried out by Fulani terrorists from the pastoralist community. These groups have in the past conducted mass killings and kidnappings. In this regard, Olayemi claimed the attack in Owo was likely in response to recent restrictions placed on grazing by the Ondo state government.
He said, “We have enjoyed improved security since herdsmen were driven away from our forests by this administration,” adding, “This is a reprisal attack to send a diabolical message to the governor.”
These claims were echoed by Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, whose secretary warned that Fulani “bandits” will “not be allowed to bring down” their civilisation.
Sunday’s massacre is the first such incident wherein a church has come under attack in southwest Nigeria in the last few years. The region is generally regarded as safe when compared to the country’s north, where groups like the Boko Haram are primarily active. Boko Haram alone has caused over 37,000 deaths and displaced more than two million people since 2011.
The Owo massacre also once again illustrates the delicate balance of Nigeria’s demographic composition, with Christians dominating much of the south and Muslims occupying the northern regions. There are also major differences between the three major tribes: the Yoruba, the Hausa, and Igbo.
The last few weeks have seen various inter-community clashes and religiously-motivated acts of violence. On May 12, for instance, a female student in the Shehu Shagari school in Sokoto was beaten to death and set ablaze by a violent mob after she allegedly shared a “blasphemous” statement against Prophet Muhammad on social media.
Being a victim in Nigeria is no longer a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN!
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) June 6, 2022
The victim card is going round!
Yesterday's victims were once survivors! Today's victims were yesterday's survivors and tomorrow's victims will be today's survivors!
WHO IS NEXT?
Apart from religious differences, there is a general sense of lawlessness and instability in the country. Just last week, a clergyman from Nigeria’s Methodist church was abducted and only released upon the payment of $240,000 as ransom.
Furthermore, well over 2,000 children were abducted in 2021, with armed groups frequently targeting schoolchildren.
In this respect, the Buhari government has repeatedly been questioned for its failure to deal with the security crisis.