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Funerals have begun for some of the forty people killed after armed men burst into a Catholic church in the town of Owo in the South West of Nigeria – shooting anyone who moved, and setting off explosives.

The town’s medical facility has been overwhelmed with casualties – many of whom had been shot.

The authorities say they suspect the extremist group Islamic State West Africa Province carried out the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first attack by the IS-linked militants in southern Nigeria - signifying an expansion of its violence.

But questions are being asked about why armed men could so brazenly attack a church in the very middle of a town, and then apparently just melt away like ‘ghosts’.

Africa Daily hears the stories of those who lived through the attack – and asks, if such an horrific attack can take place in an area that’s previously been relatively safe, is there anywhere in Nigeria that’s not impacted by violence and insecurity?