A year after the attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the capital of Ondo State’s Owo Local Council Area, survivors are still in pain. The incident, which happened on June 5, 2022, claimed the lives of 41 worshippers and injured an additional 80 others to varied degrees.
Even though the church has been repaired, it was learned that the faithful who have survived the tragic incident are still affected emotionally.
The town’s traditional chief, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, voiced dissatisfaction at the government’s refusal to prosecute the offenders after a year.
He asserted that there had been no advancement in the prosecution of those responsible despite rumours that the Nigerian Army had detained certain individuals.
According to the Monarch, the citizenry feels uneasy and impatient for justice as a result of the lack of progress.
Parish priest Rev. Father Michael Abuga said that although there had been a drop in attendance after the incident, he was still hopeful that people would soon start coming back to church.
Once the offenders were found and prosecuted, the victims’ confidence would be entirely restored.
Father Abuga thanked God for the worshippers who had come back to the church following the event, but he also recognised that only approximately 60% of the typical attendance meant that the chapel was not yet at full capacity.
He was optimistic that as time went on, more people would come back to the church, especially when security measures were strengthened and people began to feel safer.
cc: Daily Post Ng
