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Nigerian forces (archive photo from the north): In the current attack, it is not yet known who is behind it
Photo: Ben Curtis/AP
Dozens of people were killed in an attack on a Catholic church in south-west Nigeria on Pentecost Sunday.
According to the Ondo State Government, the attack targeted St. Francis Church in the town of Owo.
A group of unknown armed men stormed the church and shot indiscriminately at those attending the service, a local resident reported to the dpa news agency.
According to media reports, explosives were also detonated during the attack.
The exact number of victims is not yet clear.
The Ondo government did not provide any information on the number of dead.
The online publication People's Gazette quoted a state congressman as saying that 28 people had been killed.
Some local media such as the Nigerian Tribune spoke of around 50 deaths.
An eyewitness, who identified himself by the name Abayomi, told AFP he saw at least five attackers.
»Abominable and satanic«
State governor Rotimi Akeredolu called the attack "heinous and satanic," adding that "it is a calculated attack on the peace-loving people of Owo."
A video recording is circulating on social media, which is supposed to show the location of the event.
Apparently dead people can be seen lying on the ground covered in blood - including children.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Local residents suspect that the attack was carried out by extremists from northern Nigeria.
Jihadist groups have carried out many attacks on churches in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria in recent years.
This is the first time there has been a major attack on a church in the predominantly Christian South.
Religious conflicts, particularly between Muslims and Christians, occur time and again in the West African country with around 206 million inhabitants.
mboe/dpa/AFP
