The women during their condolence visit to Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on the Owo horror
- Women say ‘This is a sad time for us as mothers,’ appeal to Buhari
- We are for state police and restructuring – Akeredolu
- Warns marauders to keep off South West
- We can’t continue like this – Obas
- Bishops pledge support
- NBA to name first national secretariat in Abuja after Ondo governor
By Banji Ayoola
The chairman of South West governors and Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has warned marauders to stay away from the region, stressing that its people would not be slaves in their own land.
Also, he directed traditional rulers in the state to mobilise their hunters and flush criminals out of all the forests in their domains.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers in the state on Wednesday, who were in his office on a condolence visit over the Owo horror, he charged them to make the forests around them safe. He urged them to join hands with the government to fight crimes and criminals who have invaded the state’s forests.
The royal fathers were led by the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.
While appreciating the condolence visit, Akeredolu tasked the monarchs to gather their hunters and rid the forests around them of criminals.
His words: “I want to appreciate you. I read your visit to your brother, the Olowo of Owo. I thank you for the visit to Owo. If one has visited the church, one will weep. Those who came have one singular purpose. To kill and to maim.
“No doubt, we have never witnessed such horrendous thing in the Southwest before. We have come to Nigeria in peace but they are bringing war to us. We are facing Fulani herdsmen which are destroying our Farms. We also have Boko Haram who also involve in banditry and kill. And now what they called ISWAP. We will beef up our security.
“This is something so horrible. And it is not something that should be treated with kid gloves. We are for Nigeria. We are for restructuring, we are for state police. These marauders, we are going to pursue them. We need your help. We need your assistance. Make the forest around you safe.”
Earlier, Oba Aladelusi described the attack as horrific, adding that it was a terrible situation that the monarchs couldn not comprehend.
He said: “What happened in Owo more than a week ago now, was a horrifying and terrible situation that we Obas’ couldn’t comprehend. Because anything that happens to one of us happens to all of us.
“We are here to appreciate you Sir. We are here to say if not because of Amotekun, the state would have been more terrified. It is because of your initiative and outspokenness.
“We met and we said we can not continue like this. We know your efforts, despite the financial constraints, you are still recruiting more Amotekun. You take security as a priority in the state. We appreciate you. And we pray that future occurrence will never happen.”
Also on Wednesday, a delegation of the Ondo Province of Anglican Communion, was in the governor’s office on a condolence visit over the same ugly incident.
The delegation was led by the Archbishop of the Province and Bishop of Akure Diocese, His Grace, Simeon Borokini, who was accompanied by Bishops of Owo, Ile Oluji, Ondo and Ido Ani, Rt Reverend Stephen Fagbemi; Abel Ajibodu, Stephen Oni, and Adegoke Agarra respectively, among others.
The governor maintained that the people of the South-West have come to the country in peace and would resist any attempt to visit the region with war.
Describing the Owo June 5 church attack as an indescribable carnage, he assured that efforts would be made to prevent such calamity from happening again.
He said: “I’m sure you have visited the Catholic Bishop of Ondo. We are all grieving, it is not limited to Catholics. But this incident happened at St Francis Catholic Church, and it hit them directly. No doubt, it was a carnage on the 5th of June in Owo.
“I was in Abuja and I got several calls and in less than three hours I was already back in Owo. I visited the scene of the crime. When I got there it was still a bit fresh; I saw pools of blood inside the church here and there. It was very clear to us that the poople that came, came to maim and kill and no other thing.
“They did not kidnap anybody, they did not take a penny, neither did they ask the people for their phones. After blasting the Altar, they still went to the Sacristy and killed those hiding there. They started shooting from the gate of the church, according to the account of those who were there.
“I have been to the hospitals severally. When you get to the hospital and see people who suffered from gunshots and those who can tell the story of their relatives like the woman whose daughter also suffered gunshots, who said she lost her only son who is studying Pharmacy in the university. That child would probably still be in the university if not for ASUU strike.
“If you get to the hospital and see a nurse who walked into the St Francis to pray and today she has no legs again. Her two legs have been amputated.
“When I got to the children ward, that was where I wept because I was convinced and said, what can you call the sins of these children. It did not make sense. You killed many children. Who will not weep? Is that a scene to be happy about? What have these children done? Do they deserve this?
“What happened is indescribable. I keep repeating it, these are animals. You must have lost your sense of humanity to carry out such a dastardly act against the defenceless people. But as Christians we will keep thanking God because in all things we must give thanks.
“It has happened and there is nothing we can do, but we will work to prevent this sort of calamity from happening again. Like I have been saying, we have come to this country in peace. We have never gone out of our place to go and cause havoc in any place. It has never happened. We have come to this country in peace and let them leave us in peace.”.
He urged all church leaders to install CCTV cameras in their churches and also engage security men to man their churches as part of security measures across the state.
Earlier, Bishop Borokini while commiserating with the Governor, the Catholic church, people of Owo and the state at large, noted that the dastardly act has really affected so many things and distabilised everybody.
He disclosed that all the Bishops saluted the courage and action of the Governor in protecting the lives and property of the people of the state and the South-West at large through the establishment of Amotekun Corps.
His words: “I know your commitment when it comes to security matters. Everybody including Bishops acknowledge your role in the establishment of Amotekun. Seriously, the incident that happened in Owo came to us as a surprise, and we know you are destabilised. We know how painful it is to you and all of us.
“You are one of us, you are part of the Anglican Church, you are the Chancellor of Owo Diocese and we are very proud of you. We came to identify with you and also share in this grief that has occurred. We are all pained, we are not happy about it. So, we share with you at this time of grief, it concerns everyone of us and we are solidly behind you in prayers and other things we can do.”
Also on Wednesday, the governor received a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on a condolence visit to his office.
The delegation, comprising Ondo and Oyo States and members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and was led by the Chairman of NBA, Owo Branch, Mr. Olatunbosun Aganun, condemned the gruesome attack in Owo.
Also, the lawyers commended Akeredolu for the establishment of Amotekun Corps in the South-West Region to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the zone.
Aganun said: “The huge impact of Amotekun has really been shown here. They have been doing their best in terms of security, especially securing lives and property.”
Making a case for true federalism, and devolution of powers to the states, he regretted: “The Federal Government has been enjoying full concentration, which has left State Governments with less concentration, which reflects no true federalism.”
To him, a strong synergy between the state government and federal government will help in building the security architecture of Nigeria.
Aganun advised that those injured and families of those that lost there lives must be well compensated.
He disclosed that the National Leadership of NBA is set to name the first National Secretariat of the Association in Abuja after Akeredolu due to his selfless service while he was the NBA president.
Receiving the delegation, Governor Akeredolu, appreciated the lawyers for their visit, adding that all hands are on deck to get the perpetrators of the evil act.
He assured that no effort would be spared in protecting the lives and property of the citizens.
Also, women groups under the aegis of Womanifesto, who paid a condolence and solidarity visit to the governor over the same incident, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and punished.
They were led by the wife of the governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and wife of the deputy governor, Mrs Olúwaseun Aiyedatiwa to the governor’s office.
The groups included: National Council of Women Societies, NCWS; Federation of Muslim Women Societies, FOMWAN; Red Cross; Market Women : Iyalojas, Iyalajes; Women Artisans and the Womanifesto Movement of Nigeria; among others.
The co-convener of the Womanifesto, Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi described the Owo attack as yet another evidence of the blatant disregard for human life.
She lamented the incessant murder of defenceless citizens by criminal gangs who have been marauding unchecked across the country.
Dr Akinyode-Afolabi noted that the Owo killings was a pointer that the security architecture of the country has collapsed, adding that the president has a constitutional duty to protect Nigerians.
She said:”Womanifesto demands in the medium term, a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture through a National conversation on a new efficient constitution that will replace the 1999 constitution which is inadequate in catering to our present realities.
“We believe that the Governor of Ondo State has a voice. And the voice is distinct. We believe he can take our words to Mr President. What we saw in Owo is evident that our security architecture in the country has collapsed. We have to do something now.”
The group demanded that the identities of all victims of the Owo tragedy, both dead and injured should be published.
They also called on the government to demonstrate accountability and carry out a speedy investigation that is conclusive, leads to arrest, successful judicial prosecution and sentencing of the killer.
In her remarks, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu lamented that it is not the best time for mothers.
She stressed that the women are bleeding from the bad razor put on the bond that binds women to their own.
She said: “As a peculiar breed that is delicately woven with her own beyond umbilical artery, this convergence is a poignant reminder for us that giving birth is just the beginning of a crucial, complex and lifelong role of raising and keeping a family.
“A painful and doleful gathering this is; one that I truly wish we do not have to make, but which we are constrained to do because the carnage of Sunday June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa street, Owo, put a bad razor on the bond that binds us to our own, hence we bleed.
“In mourning, we have chosen this way to express our grief, to say our sense of huge personal loss, and to demand that the beasts who frittered away the vast labour of mothers by slaughtering and maiming our own be made to answer for this heinous act.
“We have also taken this route to identify with our sisters who lost children and husbands to this horrendous carnage, our men who suffer unspeakable loss, and of course, to stand by our own Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, who, through this testy period has displayed great concern, compassion and courage as a leader.
“Even in this state of dire emptiness, we pray for strength for our bereaved families, the repose of the souls lost, healing for the bruised and unbridled peace for our dear Sunshine State.”
Responding, the governor maintained that such horrendous attack has never happened in the Southwest, saying the Southwest people have always come to Nigeria in peace.
He stressed that the country is battling a trilogy, adding that the Fulani herdsmen destroy farms and kill, while the Boko haram is involved in killings and banditry, and the ISWAP.
He said: “Like one of my heroes said, Prof. Wole Soyinka. It is a trilogy. The Fulani herdsmen, the Boko Haram. And now ISWAP.”
Describing the attack as horrendous, Akeredolu said what happened in Owo is better told than seeing.
He assured that the government will spare nothing to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
The Governor appreciated members of Staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo; St. Louis Hospital, Owo; Ministry of Health; the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) and the students of the College of Health Technology, Akure.
He further noted that the marauders perpetrating the crime have remained unchecked across the country.
His words: “We are worried about the state of security in the country today. If we have done proper restructuring and we have had our own people, we would defend ourselves. These animals in human skin have remained totally unchecked. We believe in One Nigeria. We are talking about how government can be effective. Let us devolve power to the states.”
