22 people were killed in an attack during a mass in Nigeria on Sunday. This was reported by local authorities on Tuesday. Shortly after the attack, local media reported more than 50 deaths.
In addition to the 22 killed, at least 19 people were injured. There were 88 people in the building at the time of the attack.
Gunmen opened fire on Catholic worshipers at a church in the southwestern town of Owo during a mass. Explosives were also thrown inside.
UN chief António Guterres has condemned the attack. “Attacks on places of worship are despicable,” he said in a statement. The United Nations Secretary-General is urging the Nigerian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable in court.
Many armed gangs are active in northern Nigeria. In addition to robberies, they often engage in kidnappings for ransom. There are also regular bloody attacks by radical Muslims on churches. This kind of violence is rare in the Southwest. There are a number of religions in Nigeria, of which Islamic (more than 50 percent) is the most common, followed by Christianity with more than 45 percent.