The first gun rang out as Grace was being shared. The Lord’s prayer became the ultimate prayer for dozens of parishioners at the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, south-western Nigeria.
Armed men burst through the church doors around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, setting off dynamite that sent congregants fleeing for cover.
More armed men confronted worshipers as they hurried for the other two exits in the commotion, followed by more bullets and loud booms.
At the end, at least 50 bodies – some of them youngsters – were left scattered across the church floors, with many more injured, according to eyewitnesses.
There was blood on the altar, blood on the floor, bodies on the pews.
Dynamite residue still litters the church, while the vestry – where many hid – bears testimony to the chaos.
Shoes, bible pages soaked in blood, purses and other personal belongings are still scattered about.
On Monday, a sombre mood engulfed the town, with hundreds of anxious people at the hospitals and dozens more at the church.
People are walking about with a blank stare, wondering how their lives have changed forever.
There is still a crowd at two local hospitals where volunteers rushed to donate blood after the attack.
But more is still needed, said Nigeria’s medical association, which has urged people to donate more at local hospitals.
Everyone seems to know someone inside the hospital where many are critically injured and some are fighting for their lives.
Mr Buhari has released a statement condemning the attack, an action many Nigerians are now used to, given the frequency of such killings.
“Only fiends from the nether region” could have done this “dastardly act”, the statement read.
Elected on promises to end insecurity, Nigeria’s security challenges have worsened under Mr Buhari, who is winding down to his tenure’s end next May.
Armed gangs which operate across the country are rarely brought to book and no-one has any hopes that the killers of Owo will pay for the atrocity.
