TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says the gunmen who attacked a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo state, escaped the scene of the incident using a stolen car.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, with dozens killed and several others injured.

Speaking on the development in a statement on Monday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said preliminary investigation by the police showed that some of the gunmen disguised as congregants, while others took different positions around the church before firing shots.

“The gunmen, from preliminary investigations, invaded the church with arms and materials suspected to be explosives,” the statement reads.

“Police investigators who were part of the first responders deployed to the scene have recovered pellets of expended AK-47 ammunition while the Explosive Ordnance Devices – Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosives (EOD-CBRNE) unit confirmed the use of Explosives as fragments of the IEDs used were found and after thorough sweeping of the scene, 3 unexploded IEDs were recovered at the scene of the incident.

“Further investigations revealed that some of the gunmen disguised as congregants, while other armed men who had positioned themselves around the church premises from different directions, fired into the church.

“The assailants fled the scene using a Nissan Sunny car with Reg No. AKR 895 AG which was snatched from the owner, and escaped through Owo/Ute road.

“The vehicle has been recovered while the owner of the vehicle is currently assisting the police in its investigations.”