SW News: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) of the United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on a Catholic church in Nigeria’s Ondo state.

In a statement, the ministry “affirmed the UAE's strong denunciation of these criminal acts, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilising security in contravention of humanitarian values and principles,” as reported by the Emirates News Agency.

Dr Fahad Al Taffaq, the Ambassador of the UAE to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed his condolences to families of the victims of the atrocious crime, as well as the Government of Nigeria and its people.

On Sunday, June 5, the pope expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni said, "The pope has learned of the attack on the church in Ondo, Nigeria and the deaths of dozens of worshippers, many children, during the celebration of Pentecost. While the details are being clarified, Pope Francis prays for the victims and the country, painfully affected at a time of celebration, and entrusts them both to the Lord so that he may send his Spirit to console them."

According to media reports, unknown gunmen entered St Francis Catholic Church in the town of Owo in southwest Nigeria’s Ondo state on Pentecost Sunday during Holy Mass and opened fire at worshippers and detonated explosives, killing and injuring over 50 innocent people, including several children.

So far, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. Violence by armed groups is on the rise in Nigeria and Islamist insurgency is rampant in the northeast of Nigeria. But, it is rare in the southwest.

According to Open Door International, “Christians [in Nigeria] live their lives under the constant threat of attack from Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani militants and criminals who kidnap and murder with impunity.” The West African country ranks 7 in the World Watch List 2022, which is the “annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.”