Nairobi, Kenya
The Catholic Diocese of Ondo in south-west Nigeria is appealing for financial assistance to assist victims of the church attack in which 40 people died and others were injured when gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church earlier this month.
“We want to thank those who have already reached out to the victims’ families and our diocese to offer support,” said Bishop Jude Arogundade of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo. “I want to still appeal to all people of goodwill around the world to offer their financial assistance to assist the victims’ families and pay for the medical bill of those injured.”
A view of St Francis Catholic Church where worshippers were attacked by gunmen during Sunday mass, is pictured in Owo, Ondo, Nigeria, on 6th June. PICTURE: Reuters/Temilade Adelaja/File photo.
The appeal is being run in collaboration with the State Government in Ondo.
Nigerian authorities suspect the insurgent group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carried out the massacre which took place after worshippers had gathered at the church to celebrate Pentecost. The gunmen, whose victims included women and children, first detonated explosives at the altar before firing at the worshippers.
ISWAP, which is a jihadist group, is a splinter group of Boko Haram and has been waging a guerrilla war across north-eastern Nigeria and on the banks and islands of Lake Chad.
“It is so sad that while the Holy Mass was going on, unknown gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church…leaving many feared dead and many others injured and the Church violated,” Rev Augustine Ikwu, the Catholic Church spokesman in Nigeria, said on 5th June.
Bishop Arogundade said that following the attack most of the victim’s families were going through a hard time, like trying to take care of funeral expenses and medical bills, and it was important for people to come out and assist them.
In a 7th June statement, Fr Matthew Ologun, health coordinator of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, thanked Nigerians for their love towards the victims and their families. However, he urged people for more financial support and donations for victims to help the church reach out to everyone.
“We write to thank you for your concern for the Bishop, priests and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, the Worshipping Community of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo and the good people of Ondo State since the incident of the terrorist attack on Sunday, June 5, 2022. May God reward your good hearts. Amen,” he said.
Adunwo Olayemi, whose cousin was involved in the incident and survived a gunshot wound, said they were facing financial challenges to cater for the medical expenses and feed the children of the victim since she was the breadwinner.
“We need financial and material help to assist the victim pay her medical bills and care of her family,” said Olayemi. “The situation is not good because the support we are getting is not enough to cater to the needs of everyone.”
Meanwhile, the attack has left many worshippers worried, opting not to attend church services until the government boosts regional security.
“We are afraid to go to church and worship. I don’t want to die because I went to church,” said Adelola Idowu, a resident of Ondo state. “You don’t know when the gunmen will attack you. They are everywhere, and we are living in fear.”
The West African country of more than 200 million people is battling the Boko Haram insurgency and armed gangs in the northeast. Armed herdsmen and bandits, who are essentially criminal groups, are wreaking havoc across the northern and southwest with killings and kidnapping for ransom. The attacks have left thousands of civilians dead, and others kidnapped, including school-going children.
According to Open Doors data, Nigeria is ranked as the seventh most difficult place in the world to be a Christian.
