Owo church massacre

On June 5, 2022, gunmen opened fire on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during Pentecost Sunday service. The attack killed over 40 people and wounded dozens more, making it one of the deadliest single attacks on a religious gathering in southwestern Nigeria. The assailants used explosives and firearms before fleeing the scene, leaving the local community and nation in shock.

The massacre occurred amid escalating security challenges across Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency that had primarily affected the northern regions. Ondo State, located in Nigeria's southwest, had previously been considered relatively secure compared to areas experiencing Boko Haram insurgency or farmer-herder conflicts. The attack represented a significant expansion of violent extremism into previously stable regions, raising concerns about the nationwide spread of insecurity.