Nigeria held a state funeral Friday for nearly two dozen of the worshippers killed by gunmen at a church service earlier this month as church officials urged authorities to take swift action to avoid future tragedies.

Mourners paid theirs respects to 22 of the victims killed at the St. Francis Catholic Church in southwestern Ondo state on June 5. Family members already had held funerals for the other 18 victims.

The sight of their coffins, dotted with flowers and lined in front of a large crowd, drew anger and tears from church members, locals, officials and many Nigerians who followed the service on social media.

“We have failed to defend these people — not because we are not trying but because the forces on the other side are evil and they have support,” said Ondo State Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu. Read more …