As gunmen opened fire on worshippers inside a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria, others waited outside to kill those who tried to flee.
A local lawmaker said at least 50 people, including children, were killed. No one has claimed responsibility, and authorities say the gunmen escaped.
While northern Nigeria has fought an Islamic insurgency for 13 years, Ondo state is one of the most peaceful.
Gunfire erupted at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo state during Pentecost Sunday Mass. Bishop Jude Arogundade of the Ondo Diocese said outside gunmen killed fleeing churchgoers.
Steven Omotayo rushed to the church when he heard gunshots.
“I saw a lot of dead bodies — both young and old, even children,” he said. “The people came in and started shooting from the gate.”
He said the church’s main entrance was locked, making escape difficult.
“They were just shooting. If they see anyone trying to escape or stand up, they will just shoot the person,” he said. “Everybody standing was bombarded with bullets.”
After the attack, hospital workers treated dozens of wounded. The Nigeria Medical Association in Ondo state told all doctors to help dozens of critically wounded.
“At a stage, even the blood got exhausted at our blood bank and we had to be pleading for blood,” said a doctor at the Federal Medical Center in Owo who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.
“Even as a physician, I have attended to a good number of casualties but what I saw yesterday was far beyond whatever I have seen before in my life and in the practice.”
Oyeyemi Oyediran, state police commissioner, said security forces were “on top of the situation.”
“A team pursued the assailants along with the military but unfortunately, we could not catch up with them,” he said.
