Barely one week after the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa in Owo, which claimed the lives of about 40 Christians and caused various degrees of injuries for scores of others, Christians in Owo and its environs in Ondo State were on Sunday gripped with fear of another attack causing many Churches to record very low turnouts.
Our Correspondent, who visited some of the churches in Owo on Sunday, could see that many churches that used to be filled to capacity with worshippers, recorded a very low number of attendants, as the seats were sparsely occupied.
BusinessDay had reported that the deadly attack occurred in the Sanctuary of St Francis Catholic Church in Owo with reckless detonation of explosives and subsequent shootings of innocent souls in a commando-like attack that lasted for 30 minutes which involved 127 persons as about 40 innocent worshippers lost their lives.
Meanwhile, BusinessDay observed a show of force by combined security agencies in major cities, towns and villages in Ondo State, especially in Owo as men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed ‘Amotekun were visible close to Churches, while others were seen patrolling streets with their vans.
Some of the Churches visited in Owo included, Saint Andrews Cathedral, Imola street, Saint Patrick Anglican Church Ijebu-Owo; Saint Stephen Catholic Church Oke-Ogun, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pentecost Parish, Folahan Ale street, and New Church Cathedral, Fajuyi, Owo.
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At the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where Sunday terror attack occurred, the Sanctuary was deserted and the Church was under locks and keys, while some armed police officers and soldiers were seen outside the Church premises.
However, as of the time of filing this report, no Priest has conducted a holy mass to cleanse the Church of what has been described as a sacrilegious attack in the house of God by agents of darkness.
Ejike Nwali, a member of the St Stephen Catholic Church, Oke-Ogun, who spoke with BusinessDay, said it would be unchristian for him to stay away from the God’s house for fear of attack.
“Why will I be afraid to go to Church because St Francis was attacked? To me, to live is Christ, he is my source of joy, my reason to live and to die is to gain eternity”, Nwali querried why he should stay off Church because if fear of attack.
Also speaking with BusinessDay, Kehinde Ogunkorode, the Assistant Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, His Praise Parish, Oke-Ogun, Owo, said in the Book of Isaiah 41:10, God instructs the prophet to tell His people not to fear.
He therefore instructed Christians not to entertain any fear, as he said, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand so, you can see us here in our large number, we are not scared”.
