A former Information and Orientation Commissioner in Ondo State Donald Ojogo has said explosives were used in the recent attack on a church in the Owo area of the state.
The former commissioner said this on Monday, a day after gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church in the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state, leading to many deaths and injuries to several people.
“There is a clear evidence that explosives were also used but after the explosives, from what we gathered from some of the survivors, they said while they were running outside, as a result of the explosives that were detonated in the church, they were just being shot at,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. “So, it was at the cause of the stampede that most of these persons died.”
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He said the number of persons who have died as of Sunday was 21, noting that many others are on the “danger list”.
Ojogo also faulted police operatives for not responding on time, saying the nearest police station was a few metres away.
“The nearest police station to that place is two km. There is a police station not far from the Olowo palace, and this happened not far from the palace,” Ojogo said.
“These gunmen shot for more than 20 minutes and the police didn’t show up. This is the reason we need state police.
“If we are truly going to practice true federalism, then each state should have its police to be able to stop such incidents.”
A flurry of reactions has continued to trail the attack with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State vowing to hunt down the assailants.
“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,” the governor said while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
“We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.”
