President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, saying darkness will never overcome the light.
Suspected terrorists were said to have blown up the church on Sunday with many worshippers feared dead and several others injured.
Hours after the incident, Buhari said Nigeria will never succumb to the dictates of those he described as evil and wicked people.
According to him, no matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome the light. Nigeria will eventually win.
According to the President, only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such a dastardly act, adding that eternal sorrow awaits them both on earth here and ultimately in the hereafter.
He equally mourned the dead, condoling with their families, the Catholic Church, and the Government of Ondo State.
The Commander-in-Chief also directed emergency agencies to swing into action and bring succour to the wounded.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has expressed sadness over Sunday’s attack at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and vowed to hunt down the masterminds of the assault.
He said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, shortly after the attack which killed many.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state,” Governor Akeredolu said.
The governor, who commiserated with the families of the victims, vowed to fish out the culprits.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, describing it as “outrageous” just as it called for an overhaul of the country’s security architecture.
CAN’s comment was contained in a statement issued by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle.
“The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the unprovoked attacks and killing of several innocent worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, and called on the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly criminality,” the statement said about Sunday’s incident which led to many deaths and injuries.
“This is sad, wrong, condemnable, outrageous, unacceptable, and satanic. There is no explanation for this unprovoked attack and assault on a place of worship. This is raw persecution. These people are possessed, and demonic and are not working for the good of the country. May God descend heavily on them and fight them mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.
“We are once again reiterating our quest for a total overhauling of the security architecture and are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme. If the programme is not counterproductive, how come the criminalities are always on the increase and nowhere is safe again.”
It also condoled with the families of the victims, the Catholic Church and the government and people of Ondo State over the incident.
The Christian umbrella body also lamented about the rising state of insecurity in the country and accused politicians of being interested in the next election instead of seeking a permanent solution to it.