Blood on the church walls - gruesome scenes after Nigeria attack

Record ID: 1676191

  • Title: Blood on the church walls - gruesome scenes after Nigeria attack
  • Date: 6th June 2022
  • Summary: WOMAN CRYING OUT / PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) EYEWITNESS, FRANCIS OBI, SAYING: ‘’When the church is going on, all of a sudden when the Mass was about to end, we heard two gun shots near this side, so everyone began to run. Everybody is worried, what is happening, what is happening? The thing started (making gun sounds) then everybody began to run. Even
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2022 16:29
  • Keywords: Church shooting Massacre Nigeria Ondo St. Francis Catholic Church Vice President Osinbajo
  • Location: ONDO, NIGERIA
  • City: ONDO, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Africa,Disaster/Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA001304106062022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Streaks of blood marked the floors and walls of St Francis Catholic Church on Monday (June 6), in the aftermath of a deadly shooting attack that killed at least 50 people, including children, in Nigeria.
    A broken lectern and pew, plaster debris and abandoned items including shoes and a well-thumbed Bible covered in shards of glass could be seen inside the church, bearing witness to the intensity of the violence.
    The attack on the church, by an unknown number of gunmen, in the town of Owo took place during Sunday mass (June 5) as worshippers were celebrating the Christian holiday of Pentecost. Police have yet to release a death toll.
    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu, the frontrunners in the ruling party's primaries to select its presidential candidate for next year, both visited the church on Monday.
    Francis Obi, who survived the attack, recalled the confusion amongst the churchgoers on first hearing the gunshots, then panic as they ran for cover. He and his wife escaped uninjured by climbing over a fence and throwing themselves over the other side.
    Many shops in Owo, remained closed on Monday and the town was quiet. Security forces were on the streets and helicopters passed overhead.
    Authorities have not disclosed whether they know who carried out the attacks or the number of casualties.
    Nigeria has declared 7-days national mourning for the victims, with all flags flying at half-mast in the state.
    In a separate incident, Catholic priest Father Christopher Itopa Onotu was abducted during the weekend from his rectory in the town of Obangende in Kogi State, which neighbors Ondo to the north, the Catholic diocese of Lokoja said.
    (Production: Angela Ukomadu; Seun Sanni; Toyin Amusan)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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