Many Christian worshippers in Owo, Ondo State, abstained from church, on Sunday, following a violent attack on a Catholic Church in the town last week.
Last Sunday, suspected terrorists dressed in khaki opened fire on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owa-luwa, Owo, killing over 40 parishioners, and injuring scores who gathered for Sunday mass.
Unlike other Sundays, the usually packed religious centres were largely deserted, apparently flowing from fears of last week disaster.
A check by Peoples Gazette on some of the major churches in Owo, including the Apostolic Faith, Winners Chapel, C.A.C, Foursquare Gospel, Anglican, and RCCG, showed that the worship centres were placed under lock and key.
A few who held brief services brief experienced low turnout and observed it under the watchful eye of the local vigilante group.
There was also a joint patrol of the combined security agents, including the police, army, and Amotekun Corps in the town.
Others were seen stationed in strategic locations, particularly close to the palace of Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye.
Speaking to our reporter, one of the pastors at the Winners Chapel, Igbekele Adebolu, said many of his congregants were still shocked by last week’s attack on St Francis Catholic Church, hence the reason for their abstinence today.
Mr Adebolu explained that the Christian community needs to intensify their supplications to God, especially during this trying time.
He added that the government needs to beef up security around all worship centres in the state, to avoid a repetition of last Sunday’s attack.
“What has happened is a sad incident that would linger in the memory of our people,” the cleric noted. “And I see it has a temptation but we cannot shut down the whole church not to worshiping God.
“Truly, so many lives were lost to the violent attack and we do not pray such should occur again because it is a war that has been declared on Christian worshippers by the infidels.”
“We are aware of the efforts of the security agents in tracking down the perpetrators of the attack and we, as Christians won’t sleep but rather we would continue to our prayers and fasting for God to expose them. We are also asking the government to help us beef tight security around churches in the town and the state at large,” he added.
Meanwhile, some Christian worshippers and leaders of the Methodist churches in the town, on Sunday, converged at the scene of the attack for prayers.
The congregants were led in a sermon by the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Reverend Stephen Fagbemi, where they offered prayers for the families of those who were massacred during the attack.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and some members of the State Executive council were also in attendance, at the scene, held amidst tight security.
Earlier, spokesman for the Owo traditional ruler, Sam Adewale, told the The Gazette, that the monarch is still in a pensive mood over the attack on the town.
“Kabiyesi, Oba Ogunoye is still not in a good mood. Although, as a traditional ruler, the tradition does not permit him to be in a bad mood the truth is that he is sad.
“And we are receiving visitors to the palace who are paying their condolences over the brutal attack but the Kabiyesi is just taking heart,” said Mr. Adewale.
A week after the massacre, the security agencies are yet to pin down the attackers, though the federal government claims the perpetrators are militias of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, ISWAP, an offshoot of Boko Haram.
The attack drew condemnation from eminent personalities and different groups including international organisations.
