‘I hid under cupboard with my baby’ — survivor of Owo attack recounts experience

Stephanie Ajibo, one of the survivors of the Owo attack, has recounted her experience in the tragic incident.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo, and killed several worshippers, including children.

The gunmen were said to have detonated explosives before firing at the worshippers.

Speaking on the occasion of her birthday, Ajibo, who shared her experience on Facebook, revealed that she hid under a cupboard with her child to escape death.

She said a masked person came near where she was hiding and shot someone, but left the room oblivious of her.

Ajibo said the church’s choir master who wanted to also hide under the same cupboard was shot before he could try.

 “We were inside the church when they started shooting from the outside. People at the back started running towards the altar. Some jumped the fence, 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,” she recounted.

“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 mask, loaded with AK–47.

“Note that the distance between the heavily loaded gunman and me was like kitchen to dining. Our choir master who was hiding with us was shot on his chest before he ran into the room with us. I pray he survived the bullet.

“They killed children, youths and elderly. 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.”