The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the killing of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State as “animalistic attack and erosion of humanity”.

Many worshippers were reported to have been killed while several others were injured in the attack which occurred on Sunday.

Reacting to the tragic incident, the ACF, in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, on Thursday, described the terror attack as “most barbaric and implacable human act”.

The statement read: “ACF frawns at such animalistic attack on a peace-loving community, in which scores of lives were lost, with others battling for their lives in the hospitals.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, is shocked over what it considers as the most barbaric and implacable human act, in the recent time.

“The killing of innocent worshippers, at St. Francis Catholic Church, in Owo Town of Ondo State, on a first service week, ushering the month of June, could, best, be described as an unimaginable erosion of humanity enveloping the nation.”

The ACF added that such killings were witnessed in other part of the country with the aim of setting communities against each other.

“Similar killings have, earlier, taken place in mosques in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna states, in the North West and Borno and Yobe states in the North East.

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“These attacks of worship centers are aimed at setting our dear peace-loving people against each other,” the Forum added.

It, however, urged security operatives to work toward preventing further killings, saying: “It is, no more, acceptable to allow such inexorable killings happening without an inkling of an intelligence report that could nib that in the bud.

“Let our security operatives pay the necessary attentions in saving Nigeria of viable lives.
A lost of a human life is a loss of a nation.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum will, strongly, appreciate all efforts be put in bringing the culprits to book. The Forum shall not take any excuse of linking such dastardly act to only unknown gunmen, as we live and dine with the perpetrators in our communities.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum sends its condolence messages to the Ondo State Government, the Owo Community and the immediate and extended families of the deceased, while praying for the quick recovery of the injured,” the ACF stated.

The Star