Lagos, Jun. 6, (dpa/GNA) – The death toll in Nigeria has risen to 100 following a brutal attack on a Catholic church, with many children and pregnant women among the dead, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, a local politician in the southern state of Ondo, said on Monday.

Heavily armed perpetrators had stormed St Francis’ Church in the city of Owo on Pentecost, or Whit, Sunday during a church service, shooting indiscriminately at worshippers and setting off explosive devices.

Authorities had initially said on Sunday that up to 50 people were killed.

The government launched an investigation into the incident.

Jihadist and criminal groups have carried out numerous attacks on churches in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north in recent years. The predominantly Christian south has so far been spared such attacks.

Religious conflicts, especially between Muslims and Christians, occur again and again in Nigeria. 

GNA

Lagos, Jun. 6, (dpa/GNA) – The death toll in Nigeria has risen to 100 following a brutal attack on a Catholic church, with many children and pregnant women among the dead, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, a local politician in the southern state of Ondo, said on Monday.

Heavily armed perpetrators had stormed St Francis’ Church in the city of Owo on Pentecost, or Whit, Sunday during a church service, shooting indiscriminately at worshippers and setting off explosive devices.

Authorities had initially said on Sunday that up to 50 people were killed.

The government launched an investigation into the incident.

Jihadist and criminal groups have carried out numerous attacks on churches in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north in recent years. The predominantly Christian south has so far been spared such attacks.

Religious conflicts, especially between Muslims and Christians, occur again and again in Nigeria. 

GNA