The Ondo State Government has said 88 victims were recorded in the Sunday brutal attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo and 22 worshippers confirmed dead.
According to the government, 18 people are on admission in different hospitals, while seven are currently receiving treatment as outpatients.
Banji Ajaka, commissioner for health in Ondo State, who spoke in Akure on Tuesday, said: “The total involved as of today (Tuesday) is 88. And the breakdown is this: out of the 88, we have confirmed 22 dead.
“So, there were about seven people treated on an outpatient basis at St. Louis hospital. They were 18 on admission at the same hospital.”
The official confirmation came less than 24 hours after the Police recovered unexploded IEDs, and pellets of expended AK-47 ammunition from the scene of the attack.
In several videos that had appeared on social media from the scene of the attack, worshippers were lying in the pool of blood.
BusinessDay reports that the motive of the assailants is not yet known, even though the police and other security outfits have launched an investigation into the attack.
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Some unknown gunmen invaded the church on Sunday, and opened fire on worshippers.
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State, said in a statement that his administration would do everything humanly possible to hunt down the perpetrators of the crime.
He said: “The vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, we shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolve to rid our state of criminals.”
