Stephanie Ajibo Olitex, a survivor of the Owo church attack is full of gratitude to God as she marks her birthday today, June 6. 2022.
Kemi Filani recalls that many worshippers were confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries after suspected terrorists attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday, June 6, 2022.
Sharing her testimony on Facebook, she narrated how she narrowly escaped being shot by the terrorists who stormed the church in masks and began shooting sporadically at the congregation without withstrain.
“We were inside the church when they started shooting from the outside. People at the back started running towards the altar. Some jumped fence and our priest escaped through the sacristy with the help of our catechist.
By the time I ran towards the Sacristy door, it was already locked by members who were able to reach there before me. I had to hide myself under the cupboard inside the choir room with the baby in my hand. He shot somebody right in front of me near the Sacristy door. He looked around, when he didn’t see anybody or sound, he went away. He was on a mask, loaded with Ak 47.
Note that the distance between the heavily loaded gunman and me was like the kitchen to dining. Our choirmaster who was hiding with us was shot in his chest before he ran into the room with us. I pray he survives the bullet.
They killed children, youths and the elderly. We’ve recorded almost 100 death and still counting..I came out alive and escaped through the fence that demarcated our church from the Palace of Olowo of Owo Kingdom and ran to the palace for the fear of the unknown. The baby with me is safe, I’m also safe.”
Happy birthday to me.
