Gunmen have killed an unknown number of church worshippers in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari said “only fiends from the nether region” could have done this “dastardly act”.

The armed men entered St Francis Catholic church in the town of Owo and fired at the congregation during a service to mark the holiday of Pentecost, witnesses said.

It is believed that over 70 persons were killed and injured in the attack.

In a statement by the Ondo State Police Command, on Sunday, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the attack was initiated by the gunmen at about 11:30 a.m., while the church service was ongoing.

“Some armed men invaded the church and attacked members of the church, where some lives were lost and some sustained varying degrees of injuries,” the statement said.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the assailants approached the church during the service, started shooting from outside the church while others numbering about four shot directly into the church.”

The statement noted that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Oyeyemi Oyediran, had ordered the deployment of armed and specialised policemen to restore normalcy and fortify the entire community.

“Meanwhile, the CP has equally ordered Forensic Investigation into the attack to ascertain the actual or remote cause(s) of the attack and for immediate arrest of the assailants as all hands are on deck to forestall any similar attack in any part of the state,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police also commiserated with the Church, family of the deceased, the People of Owo and the Ondo State Government.

The police, were, however, silent on the number of mortality and the injured.