Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (right); and the Ondo Diocesan Bishop of the Catholic Church, Most Revd Jude Arogundade, during a condolence visit to to Governor at his Owo home by Catholic Bishops from the South West … on Wednesday
- Catholic Bishops from South West visit Governor, condole victims
- State Assembly commiserates with Owo, Ondo State People
- Ohanaeze plans to convey dead victims home in South East
- Akeredolu unfolds new security plans to protect places of worship, forestall Owo horror repeat anywhere in the state
By Banji Ayoola
The death toll from the Sunday terrorists attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, is now 40, according to the Ondo State Government.
Giving the update on the horror on Wednesday, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu disclosed that the number of deaths had risen to 40.
According to him, 127 persons were involved in the attack while 61 survivors are still on admission in different hospitals. He also disclosed that 26 persons have been discharged.
He gave the update on Wednesday while playing host to a team of Catholic Bishops from the South-West led by Most Reverend Leke Abegunrin, who had paid him a condolence visit at his Ijebu-Owo residence in Owo; where he also assured that the state government will provide land in a good environment for the mass burial of the victims of the Owo terror attack.
The Governor added that the new figure followed the harmonization of the reports from the various hospitals including the private ones.
He urged the people to discountenance the figures earlier rolled out.
Also, Akeredolu assured the Catholic Church that the state government will provide land in a good environment for the mass burial of the victims.
He said, “We will have a Memorial Park here where those who died in the attack will be buried.
“We will find a good place as a Memorial Park. It will also be my suggestion that even if there are people who have retrieved their family or members of their family, we must still have a symbolic grave there for them. And it will be there forever, it is not something we can forget and we should never forget it.”
Akeredolu explained that the state government has set up an account for donations following series of the calls and demand for an account number by well meaning individuals who are desirous of helping the families of the victims and the survivors.
He assured that all the donations made would be judiciously utilized for the purpose it is meant for.
His words: “What we witnessed in Owo on that Sunday, I have been looking for a word to describe it but I’m not too sure I can find one because it is indescribable. There is no word to describe it. If you say horrific, dastardly, horrendous, all those ones are common words and we use them for many things.
“But I have been looking for a better word to use because we have witnessed barbaric elements, animals in human’s skin. If you are humans you would not do what they have done. May be there are areas where they will do such a thing and they are not worried. But here were are worried because it is not something we are used to. Human life means a lot to us.
“That is why one is moved. We will have a Memorial Park here where those who died in the attack will be buried. My Bishop sir, we will find a good place as a Memorial Park. It will also be my suggestion that even if there are people who have retrieved their family or members of their family, we must still have a symbolic grave there for them. And it will be there forever, it is not something we can forget and we should never forget it.”
On the update on the figures, the Governor said: “The medical team led by the Commissioner for Health has sent figure to us, and it is slightly different. What I put out during my address on the broadcast to the State was wrong and we must accept it.
“The figure I have now shows that 127 persons were involved, and that the number of death now is 40. On admission receiving treatment we have 61. 26 have been discharged. Those are the figures we have now from the commissioner for Health. So, government is not hiding anything.
Earlier, Bishop Abegunrin, expressed his sadness over the unexpected attack, describing it as an attack on God.
He said: “We were saddened when watching on our small phones and later in the evening the whole episode as it was on the public television, it was really sad. The Bishop of Yoruba land in Lagos and Ibadan province are here to commiserate with you, Owo people, the people of Ondo State and with our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church and Ondo Diocese.
“It is very painful, it can provoke people to retaliate and do what is ungodly but we are people of faith; we leave everything to God to judge but humanly speaking, we heard what you have been doing in the state that those people who did this havoc to us will be brought to book before long and we are happy about that.
“For sometime now since Amotekun started we know what you have been doing in Ondo State, that you are protecting the people in cities and villages. Even with threat and warnings, you shun every threat to provide security for the people and their property.
“They attack human beings, but our own interpretation is that they attack God and the consequences are awaiting them. Whatever you have to do to bring them to book l, I pray God to assist and protect you. We thank you for your action, you are not just a Governor but filled with action. You are articulate, you are not afraid. You made your place known loudly and openly that you are not for nonsense and that you are for your people and Nigeria.”
Also, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo,
Also, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, said the visit was to comfort one another and also inform the Governor about the plan to organize a befitting burial for the deceased.
He said: “We are gathered here to comfort one another, it has been very difficult and painful not just because the incident happened in Owo but in Ondo Diocese. We are preparing for the funeral of the people who died at the incident
“You have always taken the Catholic Church so highly in everything, that is the kind of person you are because you love God and respect him and you are a man of your word, you are the kind of leader we look up to in Yoruba land and Nigeria.”
Members of the state executive council led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu joined the Governor to receive the visitors.
Later, Government issued a statement through the Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, which corroborated the Governor, saying: “The situation report as of 12 midnight on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 is that at St. Louis Hospital, Owo, 39 people were involved and 13 deaths.”
According to the statement: “At the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, the total number of persons involved is 84 and number of corpses in FMC mortuary is 25; 17 females and eight males.”
It also said two deaths were recorded from two private hospitals in the state.
Also, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Owo Local Government Area, said it had begun preparation to take corpses of its members who were killed in the attack to the South-East for burial.
Its Chairman in the local government, Mr Anayo Okorie, said that members of the communal body have started meetings to discuss on how to convey the bodies to their various states.
His words: “We are here to discuss the way forward for those that died. We cannot give you the actual figures of the Igbos that died because they were many.
“We are planning on how to take the bodies back home. It affected everybody, that is why you see shops still closed.”
On its own, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has also condemned the attack.
The group’s position was contained in a statement by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, released in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The ACF described the attack as an unimaginable erosion of inhumanity enveloping the nation aimed at setting peace-loving people against one another.
On its own, the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, South-West zone, has asked the government to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.
The association also called on its members in Ondo and neighbouring states to provide the needed health care services for those affected.
The medical doctors made their position known in a statement jointly signed by the zonal Chairman, Dr Ogunlaja Oladayo; and Secretary, Dr Bolaji Salako .
Meanwhile, Akeredolu also on Wednesday, stressed the determination of his Government to redouble efforts geared towards enhanced security of lives and property in the state, and making the state unattractive and inhabitable to criminals in whatever guise.
He disclosed that prior to the horrific attack on Owo, he had already directed the recruitment of 300 fresh personnel into the State Security network codenamed Amotekun corps.
Declaring that more vehicles and ammunitions will also be procured for the Amotekun Corp for effective protection of the people in the state, he assured that his administration would soon issue an executive order for all places of worship to install Close Circuit Cameras (CCTV) at strategic places in their premises.
He spoke while receiving members of the Ondo State House Of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oloyelogun, who were on a condolence visit to him over the terror attack, at his Owo home residence also on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker commiserated with the Governor, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, families of those who were killed the terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and the entire people of the state.
The Speaker lamented that it was unfortunate that the house of God which used to be a safe haven has turned into a scene of massacre.
He commended Akeredolu for his effort at protecting lives and property of the citizens of Ondo State through the establishment of the Amotekun Corp.
His words: “Mr. Governor we are always with you any time. At this trying time, we are to commiserate with you and the good people of Owo.
“When we were coming, we went to the Church. We commended the security operatives so far so good but appealed to them to try as much as possible to get those people arrested and bring them to book in order to stop such a thing in our environment.
“Mr. Governor, we also ask our people especially People Of Owo and its environs and other parts of the state to be vigilant. If they see any strange face, they should quickly report it to the security agencies.”
Akeredolu described the evil act as tragic, saying Ondo State and Southwest region have never witnessed such ugly incident.
He said: “This animals who came, because no human being will carry out such evil act, did not come to kidnap. There is no other way we can describe them than terrorists. They were there to maim and kill.”
Also, members of the state executive council led by the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, joined the Governor to receive the lawmakers.
