- Ondo Police Command mourns, promises to forestall re occurrence
Tears flowed freely on Friday as funeral mass held for victims killed in the June 5 terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
In the attack which occurred during Sunday worship, no fewer than 40 persons were gruesomely killed while over 80 others were injured. The wounded victims are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Owo.
The funeral mass began at 10:00 am after the caskets bearing the bodies of the deceased were brought in.
The venue of the mass, Mydas Resort, Owo, was filled to capacity with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and wife and top government officials in attendance with other top personalities.
The mass took off following the procession into the hall by Catholic priests.
Terrorists on Sunday, June 5 attacked the Catholic church during a worship service, killing many congregants and injuring several others.
The Nigerian government in reaction to the horror, claimed that the attack was carried out by the dreaded terror group, the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating basically in the Northern region of the country and other West African countries.
However, the group has neither debunked the claim nor accepted responsibility for the attack.
Akeredolu and his Ekiti State counterpart and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, have dismissed the claim, saying ISWAP would have claimed responsibility for the attack if it was involved.
Ondo Police Command mourns, promises to forestall re occurrence
Meanwhile, the state Police Command says that it is also mourning the dead victims of the dastardly attack.
It will be recalled that a policeman attached to Ipele Divisional Headquarters, Nehan Omolayo, a sergeant with Force Number 454476, was one of the victims of the horror, and was also slated to be part of the Mass Burial organised by the Catholic Diocese.
A statement by police spokeswoman in the state, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, a superintendent, SP, said: “As the burial is being carried out under tight security, the Commissioner of Police, CP Oyeyemi Adesoye Oyediran, psc, fsi, is also using this medium to assure the people of Ondo State of adequate security to forestall any kind of unforeseen incident that can tamper with the peace enjoyed in the State and promised to bring to book all the perpetrators of this dastardly act and ensure justice is served accordingly.”
