Nigerian church attacked

Gunmen kill more than 50 and abduct priest at Pentecost gathering in Ondo state, legislators say.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Gunmen opened fire on worshipers and detonated explosives Sunday at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria, leaving dozens feared dead, state lawmakers said.

The attackers targeted the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo in Ondo state just as the worshipers gathered on Pentecost Sunday, legislator Ogunmolasuyi Oluwole said. Among the dead were many children, he said.

Additionally, the presiding priest was abducted, according to Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo area in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber.

“Our hearts are heavy,” Ondo Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu tweeted Sunday. “Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people.”

Authorities did not immediately release an official death toll. Timileyin said at least 50 had been killed, though others put the figure higher. Videos appearing to be from the scene of the attack showed worshipers lying in pools of blood while people around them wailed.

“Only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such a dastardly act,” Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said, according to a statement from his spokesman.

“No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win,” said Buhari, who was elected after vowing to end the country’s prolonged security crisis.

In Rome, Pope Francis responded to news of the attack.

“The pope has learned of the attack on the church in Ondo, Nigeria, and the deaths of dozens of worshipers, many children, during the celebration of Pentecost. While the details are being clarified, Pope Francis prays for the victims and the country, painfully affected at a time of celebration, and entrusts them both to the Lord so that he may send his spirit to console them,” the pope said in a statement issued by the Vatican press office.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack on the church.

While much of Nigeria has struggled with security issues, Ondo is widely known as one of the country’s most peaceful states. However, Ondo has been caught up in a rising violent conflict between farmers and herders.

Nigeria’s security forces did not immediately respond to questions about how the attack occurred or whether there are any leads on suspects.

Owo is about 215 miles east of Lagos, Nigeria.

“In the history of Owo, we have never experienced such an ugly incident,” said Oluwole. “This is too much.”