How terrorists attacked Ondo church — Survivors

Some of the survivors of Sunday’s attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have revealed how the church was attacked by the terrorists.

The attack, which was described as “black Sunday” by the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, left many worshippers dead while several others were injured.

Speaking to newsmen on the hospital bed on Monday, the survivors revealed that the assailants threw bombs and opened fire on them a few minutes before the end of service.

One of the injured worshippers, Alex Michael, said he was shot in the leg while protecting his children from the attack.

Michael disclosed that the gunmen operated for about 30 minutes before leaving the scene.

He said: “They started shooting from outside and before we knew it, they began firing at people inside the church. Many people died.

“I was with my children and I tried to defend them. We had to move under the church’s pew when the shooting was going on but the place could not contain us. They shot my legs which  were outside but I  thank God nothing happened to my children,” Michael told The Nation

Also speaking on the attack, another survivor, Benjamin Ozulumba, said he escaped with a gunshot wound through a ladder at the back of the church.

Ozulumba added that he lost his 70-year-old  mother to the attack.

The survivor, who said he was shot in the leg, revealed that the gunmen threw dynamites into the church.

He said: “When we were about to close, we just heard gunshots within the compound of the church. Before we knew it, they started shooting everybody and they threw dynamites.

“I was shot in the leg. I lost my mother in the attack but the rest of my family is safe. My mother is over 70 years.

“With blood already gushing out of my leg, I immediately summoned strength within me to move to the back of the Catechist when there was an explosion.

“On getting to the backyard, I saw a ladder and I escaped through the ladder.When I was escaping  I saw many bodies on the ground.

READ ALSO: Church attack: NGF commiserates with victims, donates N50m to church

“I went to the church with my wife, children and my mother. But nothing happened to my wife and children,” Ozulumba revealed.

However, one of the survivors, identified as Margret Attah, said she could not comprehend how the incident occurred on Sunday.

Attah, whose legs were amputated due to the severity of the damage by bullets, expressed sadness over the attack.

Also speaking, Gloria John said she was shot in the leg by the terrorists.

John said her husband did not go to church on Sunday, adding: “It was when they left that I was brought outside and brought to the hospital (FMC).”

Another survivor,  John Nwogwu,  said he was able to join some lucky members of the church  who hid at the back of the altar

“We heard a loud explosion and the ceiling fell on us. Even at that, the gunmen were still shooting at us and at the door of the place we are hiding. One of our choir masters was hit by a bullet.

“Where I was hiding, I was able to see one of the attackers putting on Khaki material that looked like that of Man_O-war. He burnt the altar,” Nwogwu disclosed.

The Star