Terrorists Bought Roasted Corn Before Attacking Owo Church – Witness - Newstrends
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Terrorists Bought Roasted Corn Before Attacking Owo Church – Witness

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Some victims of the attack

The enduring peace in Owo town, Ondo State, was shattered last Sunday following the brutal murder of congregants worshipping at the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo.

Nobody would have predicted such dastardly act for the town known over the years to be calm, peaceful and accommodating of people of other tribes.

According to Alhaji Abimbola Omoloja, a high chief in Owo, “Owo means the place of honour. We honour ourselves and we also honour visitors, we accept people into our folds. The population of none natives is more than that of the natives. We have Ebiras, Kabbas, Kwales, Ibos, Hausas and people from other tribes. We have all these people and we have been living together peacefully. Hausas, Ibos and Ebiras have been installed as chiefs in Owo.”

In relation to last Sunday’s tragic incident, he said although in recent times they have been having partial destruction of people’s property in the farms, the town or even the state has never had it so bad. 

“It was a bad Sunday for this town. Immediately after the incident, we were invited to the palace by his royal majesty. When we got there, we saw the gravity of what happened. We will continue to pray that this type of thing would never happen again.”

Mr Benjamin Asowa, a civil servant and one of the victims of the terror attack, who spoke to Daily Trust from his sick bed at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, said “The mass just ended with the priest saying ‘go in peace’, and all of a sudden, we heard a gunshot. A young boy who sells sweets by the Church gate had been shot. People started running helter-skelter. Then, there was an explosion, in fact it was difficult to remember. About four or five of them started shooting at us. I saw a small boy looking for his parents, he was killed. They didn’t spare anybody. Suddenly, a bullet hit me in the leg, all the people around me were dead. They were all young boys. My wife is also on admissions as she was affected by the explosion. The way they carried out that operation, it was like they were trained for it and their mission was to wipe out everybody. Some strange people have taken over, we don’t understand what is happening anymore.”

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He appealed to government to take the issue of security seriously.

Another victim, Mrs Precious Sunday, was shot at the back and close to the breast. While writhing in pain, she also told Daily Trust on Sunday her experience. She said it was by the grace of God that she survived the attack. “I was in the Church with my three children, one of them – a four-year-old, was also shot and is receiving treatment at the children’s ward.

I never believed such a thing can happen in the Church and in a town like Owo which has always been peaceful.”

The 35-year-old woman who claimed to be a business woman however said she can only pray that God forgives those who perpetrated this evil.

Mr Benjamin Ozulumba, a 49-year-old sawmiller, in his own account, said “It was just like a scene from a horror movie, in fact it is difficult to describe. I was sitting with my 78-year-old mother, Mrs Bridget Ozulumba, at the time. The explosion affected my two legs but killed my mother. We were trying to escape when the explosion landed, I’m still in shock but my wife and five children survived unhurt.”

Mrs Gloria Okorie was also one of the worshippers in Church on that dark Sunday. She had gone with her five children. She said one of her children Faith Okorie was shot, but the rest escaped. It was later l learnt that the Rev Father hid my children in the toilet. We jumped over the fence; and those in the market assisted us through the fence. 

She was full of prayers for those who have been assisting the victims through donations and other means.

For one of the victims, Mrs Caroline Agboola Aina, popularly know as Iya Alakara (bean cake seller), the story was not the same for her because she never made it.

The 69-year-old woman who sells akara close to the Church was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.

Her sons Agboola Olalekan and Agboola Michael told Daily Trust that they were in Lagos when he heard the sad news of their mother’s death. “I was shocked and had to rush down. She was a good woman. She calls her children every morning and evening on phone just to pray for us. She was a crazy giver,” said Michael. 

One of the leaders in the street where the Church is located, Mr Ojowa Clement, who saw the bandits when they arrived the Church, said they did not suspect that they were on such a mission.

According to him, “I was sitting outside the house with my wife and other people when they trekked from that path (pointing to a narrow path close to the Church). They came on foot and were carrying sacks. They even stopped at a point to buy roasted corn. We didn’t pay them any attention until they got to the front of the Church and approached the driver of a Golf car and asked for his car key. When he resisted, they brought out a gun and the man cooperated and ran away. By this time, a small boy selling sweet was walking away; they called him back and shot him dead.

“At this point, we all ran inside and hid. They even shot at our house (pointing to bullet holes in the building) but none of us was affected. After about twenty minutes, the gunshot stopped and then people were wailing and crying. I have been sick since then because I have never witnessed this type of thing.”

Shortly after the incident, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was in Abuja for an official engagement cut short his assignment and came back to Owo, his hometown.

Akeredolu immediately had a meeting with heads of security agencies where he was briefed. Reacting to the sad incident, he said he was deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church.

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According to him, “the vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.

“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquillity have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.

“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.”

Akeredolu promised that they will work hard to ensure they get the perpetrator and bring them to book.

The Church has also approached the state government to make arrangements on how to bury the dead. Forty corpses, according to the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese Reverend Jude Arogundade, are at the Federal Medical Centre Owo, St Louis Hospital and some private hospitals in Owo.

Governor Akeredolu has also announced that the Church will provide land, in a good environment for mass burial, which will be made a park.

Individuals and organisations are already making donations. APC leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu during a visit to Owo within the week donated N50m to the victims and N25m to the Church. The governor’s forum also donated N50m to the victims.

Afenifere leaders were also at the scene on Thursday where its leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo called on the people to be ready to protect themselves.

Pa Adebanjo, while sympathizing with the people of Ondo State, the governor, Olowo of Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, and the Catholic church, called for a proper review and introduction of community policing.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre Owo, Dr Liasu Adeagbo Ahmed, told Daily Trust that the Federal government has directed that they should not collect any money from the victims. He said NMA BEDC, First Bank and other health international organizations are also on ground to assist the victims. They brought blood, consumables and other forms of support.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathized with the Church and victims. Some state governors, groups and organisations have also visited the scene, the palace of the Olowo of Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye and Governor Akeredolu’s home to sympathize with them.

At the moment, arrangements are being made to bury the dead while efforts were also being made by security forces who are working jointly to apprehended the bandits.

The news of the rumoured arrest of the suspects filtered in Thursday night and residents who have been mourning the death of their loved ones to the heinous crime besieged the palace of Olowo to catch a glimpse of bandits.

Addressing the crowd in Owo dialect, Oba Ogunoye asked them to remain calm, saying he heard the same unconfirmed news just like the residents heard that the assailants had been arrested.

Our correspondent however contacted the Police Public Relations, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami to confirm the arrest and she simply replied: “I’m not aware.”

A source within the palace of Olowo however told our correspondent the information was only a rumour.

The source who didn’t want his name mentioned said: “It was only a rumour. The youth besieged the palace in their thousands when the rumour broke out, but it was discovered to be false alarm. It was later discovered that some Fulani/Hausa guys were arrested around Owo/Benin boundary with arms.”

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‘I Went to My Pastor for Deliverance, Ended Up in Bed With Him’ – Lady Recounts Encounter

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‘I Went to My Pastor for Deliverance, Ended Up in Bed With Him’ – Lady Recounts Encounter

 

A Nigerian woman has sparked controversy on social media after recounting an alleged sexual encounter with her former pastor during a deliverance session.

 

The unidentified woman reportedly made the revelation during a video interview shared by social media platform NewsVista, claiming that what began as a visit to seek spiritual intervention eventually ended in a sexual encounter.

 

In the viral clip, the woman expressed confusion over how the incident happened, insisting that she still struggles to understand how a session she had expected to be devoted to prayer and deliverance turned into an intimate encounter.

 

The interview has since attracted attention online, with the allegation raising concerns about the relationship between religious leaders and members who approach them for spiritual guidance and counselling.

 

Although details surrounding the alleged incident remain unclear, the woman’s account has triggered discussions about the responsibility of religious leaders to maintain professional and ethical boundaries while attending to vulnerable members of their congregations.

 

Some social media users have criticised the alleged conduct, arguing that pastors and other religious leaders occupy positions of trust and should not exploit their spiritual authority or the vulnerability of people seeking assistance.

 

Others have called for religious organisations to strengthen accountability measures and introduce safeguards for private counselling and deliverance sessions.

 

However, the identity of the pastor, the church involved and the location where the alleged incident occurred have not been disclosed.

 

It is also unclear when the alleged encounter took place or whether the woman has made any formal complaint to the relevant authorities.

 

NewsTrends.ng cannot independently verify the circumstances surrounding the woman’s account. The allegation should therefore be treated as unverified pending further details or an official response from the person concerned.

 

The development has once again drawn attention to the need for accountability, transparency and appropriate boundaries in religious counselling, particularly where individuals place their trust in spiritual leaders for help with personal challenges.

 

‘I Went to My Pastor for Deliverance, Ended Up in Bed With Him’ – Lady Recounts Encounter

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Port Harcourt Married Women Use Husbands’ Cars To Visit Lovers, Lady Alleges

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Port Harcourt Married Women Use Husbands’ Cars To Visit Lovers, Lady Alleges

 

A Nigerian lady has stirred controversy on social media after making a sweeping allegation about the alleged infidelity of some married women in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

 

The unidentified woman reportedly made the controversial claim in a viral video, alleging that some married women in the oil-rich city use vehicles provided by their husbands to visit their secret lovers.

 

According to a report by Gistlover dated November 3, 2026, the lady claimed that the alleged practice was particularly common in Port Harcourt, a remark that has since triggered widespread reactions across social media platforms.

 

In the video, she reportedly expressed surprise at what she portrayed as a disturbing pattern of marital betrayal, suggesting that some women allegedly use the comfort and resources provided by their husbands to maintain extramarital relationships.

 

Her remarks have generated mixed reactions among social media users, with some finding the allegation amusing, while others criticised the generalisation, arguing that infidelity is not peculiar to any city or gender.

 

Others questioned the basis of her claim, insisting that allegations involving marital relationships should not be used to stereotype women or residents of an entire city.

 

The controversy has once again sparked conversations about marital trust, fidelity, loyalty and the growing debate surrounding infidelity in modern relationships.

 

However, the woman’s allegation has not been independently verified, and there is no evidence establishing that the alleged conduct is widespread among married women in Port Harcourt.

 

 

Port Harcourt Married Women Use Husbands’ Cars To Visit Lovers, Lady Alleges

 

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Tears In Ebonyi Community As Newlyweds, Groom’s Mother, Seven Others Perish In Crash

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Tears In Ebonyi Community As Newlyweds, Groom’s Mother, Seven Others Perish In Crash

A wedding celebration has turned into a devastating tragedy after a newly married couple, the groom’s mother and seven other people reportedly lost their lives in a fatal road accident while returning from a marriage ceremony in Ebonyi State.

The accident, which reportedly occurred around 9pm last Friday, claimed nine lives, leaving two families and their communities in deep mourning.

The victims included the bride and groom, the groom’s mother, Augustina Okabekwa, as well as other relatives and friends who had reportedly accompanied the family to the marriage ceremony.

According to a report by The Eagle, the victims were returning from Abakaliki, where the marriage ceremony had taken place, when the tragic incident occurred.

A family member of the groom, identified as Nwada Ijeoma, recounted the devastating incident during a visit to the Okabekwa family compound in Amudo Umueze, Iseke, the groom’s hometown.

Ijeoma, who is married and resides in Nnewi, Anambra State, said she rushed to the family compound after receiving news of the tragedy to ascertain what had happened.

Speaking in Igbo, she expressed shock and grief over the incident, describing it as a devastating blow to the family.

She explained that she was initially unaware that members of her family had travelled to Abakaliki on Friday for the marriage ceremony of one of their sons.

According to her, the ceremony reportedly ended late, forcing the wedding party to begin their return journey at night because of the distance involved.

She said information available to the family suggested that the vehicle conveying the victims was involved in a collision with a trailer.

However, she stressed that the exact circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear, including whether the vehicle rammed into the trailer or the trailer collided with the victims’ vehicle.

Among those reportedly killed was the groom’s mother, Augustina Okabekwa, popularly known as Okwuruoka, who was said to be the president of the Christian Women Organisation (CWO).

Others identified by the family member included Jude Okabekwa, the groom’s brother-in-law, and Okaka, the groom’s younger brother.

She also disclosed that the tragedy wiped out several members of the extended family, including their only son from another household.

According to her account, three of the deceased were from Onitsha, Anambra State, while five others were from the groom’s family compound.

The report, however, did not provide the identities of all the victims or clarify the circumstances surrounding the remaining casualty.

The tragedy has reportedly plunged the Okabekwa family and the wider Iseke community into mourning, with the family struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss.

What was expected to be a joyful occasion marking the beginning of a new chapter for the newly married couple has instead ended in an unimaginable tragedy.

As of the time of the report, further details about the accident, including the identities of all the victims and the official circumstances surrounding the crash, had yet to emerge.

 

Tears In Ebonyi Community As Newlyweds, Groom’s Mother, Seven Others Perish In Crash

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