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Tag: St Francis Catholic Church

  • Worshippers recall ugly incident as Owo Catholic Church reopens

    Worshippers recall ugly incident as Owo Catholic Church reopens

    St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State on Sunday reopened for service ten months after the deadly attack on the church by gunmen.

    Recall that over 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack by gunmen.

    Worshippers who defied fears to attend Easter Sunday service, expressed pleasure for the reopening of the church.

    Addressing the congregants, Bishop Jude Arogundade, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, lamented the growing level of insecurity in the country.

    Arogundade appealed to the government to ensure that the attackers were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

    The bishop prayed for the congregants, especially the injured and those that lost their relatives, promising that the church would not abandon them.

    Some worshippers who were unable to control their emotions were seen weeping, while recalling the ugly incident.

    Arogundade appreciated the Aids to the Church in Need, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and other donors for extending their help to the church.

    He asked the church members to keep praying for those still suffering and in trauma as a result of the attack, stating that the church would continue to comfort those in pain.

    He, however, solicited for more assistance from the Federal Government and the well-to-do in the society for the victims and the church.

    “We are still waiting for the Federal Government. These are your citizens; let them know they belong to you. I have criticised you enough but if you do well, I will praise you.

    “Some who have psychological issues are still many; but we believe that with our support and prayers they will return,” he said.
    Speaking on the reopening of the church, Mrs Jumoke Oyekorode, who lost her mother in the attack, said that the vacuum left by her mother was yet to be filled.

    Oyekorode added that it was a good thing for her mother to have died in the church, and thanked God for the reopening of the church.

    Also, Mrs Margaret Ata, a survivor of the attack said that she was happy to be back in the church, though as an amputee.

    Ata, who lost her an eye and two legs as a result of injuries sustained in the attack, stated that two of her children were on scholarship.

  • PHOTOS: Owo Catholic Church reopens 10 months after deadly attack

    PHOTOS: Owo Catholic Church reopens 10 months after deadly attack

    St Francis Catholic Church in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, shut down in 2022, following a deadly attack, reopened on Sunday, 10 months after, as Christians across the globe mark 2023 Easter celebrations.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls no fewer than 40 worshippers were massacred at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo by gunmen in an incident that jolted Nigeria and the global community.

    A Twitter user, Damilola Olufemi, shared photos of worshippers reconvened at the Catholic Church to mark the Easter celebrations.

    “10 months after the #OwoMassacre, St Francis Cathedral Church, Owo, Ondo State reopened for service. At exactly this time on June 5, 2022, the ancient town was in distress after gunmen attacked the church, killed many people and left others injured. An unforgettable memory,” Olufemi wrote.

    TNG reports the Federal Government had revealed that the imprint of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) was found at the scene of the June 5 attack, which left 127 worshippers injured.

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who described the attack as an unspeakable evil, vowed that perpetrators of the dastardly would be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    However, while arrests were said to have been made, nothing has been heard about the prosecution of the perpetrators to date.

     

  • Owo Massacre: Catholic church announce mass burial date

    The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has revealed that there will be a mass burial for the victims of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo attack.

    According to him, the mass burial for the victims will be held on the 17th of June ,2022 at a new cemetery on Emure Road in Owo.

    The terror attack on the church left 40 worshippers killed with several others injured.

    On Monday, the Diocese of Ondo’s Director of Social Communication, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, confirmed the news to pressmen.

    With the number of deceased worshippers still remain at 40, the injured victims were still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center and the St. Louis Catholic Church both in Owo as well as in other private hospitals in the state.

    The terror attack has been linked to ISWAP, but no arrest has been made in connection to the massacre at the church.

  • Owo massacre: 127 affected, as death toll hits 40

    The Ondo State Government has said those affected by the Sunday terrorists attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, are 127, while 40 were confirmed dead

     

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

     

    The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, earlier said the casualty figure at 38.

     

    Ajaka, in the statement said, “The situation report as of 12midnight on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 is that at St. Louis Hospital, Owo, 39 people were involved and 13 deaths.

     

    “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.”

     

    He also said two deaths were recorded from two private hospitals in the state.

     

    Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has assured the Catholic Church that the state government will provide land in a good environment for the mass burial of the victims.

     

    Akeredolu gave the assurance while receiving a team of Catholic bishops from the South-West led by Archbishop Leke Abegunrin, at his residence in Owo.

     

    The governor, who also confirmed the new casualty figure, said the new figure followed the harmonisation of reports from various hospitals.

     

    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.”

     

    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.

     

    The chairman of the group in the local government, Mr Anayo Okorie, said they have started meetings to discuss on how to convey the bodies to their various states.

     

    He said, “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.”

     

    The Arewa Consultative Forum 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.

     

    Also, the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, 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 .

  • OWO MASSACRE: Church plans mass burial for anonymous corpses, 38 confirmed dead

    Authorities of the Diocese of Ondo have confirmed that 38 persons died in the Sunday terrorists’ attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

     

    The Diocesan Bishop, Jude Arogundade, confirmed this on Tuesday.

     

    Gunmen had on Sunday attacked the church located on Owa-Luwa Street in Owo, the hometown of the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, leaving many parishioners dead and several others injured.

     

    According to Arogundade, the diocese had been able to account for 38 victims.

     

    He, however, said some families picked up corpses of their loved ones and those could not be accounted for by the diocese.

     

    A source said: “People have been asking me about the figure of those who died. The figure that we can account for presently is 38. But we know that many people were taken to private hospitals. Even some people came to take the bodies of their loved ones. We are trying to trace those people so that we can have a recount for all.

     

    “But in the catholic hospital, which is St. Louis Hospital in Owo, and the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, we have 38 bodies.”

     

    Meanwhile, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the diocese may consider mass burial for the victims of the massacre as some bodies had not been identified and claimed by their relatives since the incident happened.

     

    The source, however, said a final decision has not been reached on the date and other burial arrangements.

     

    He said, “There are plans to give mass burial to those who lost their lives in the Sunday attack. The decision was taken due to the nature of their deaths. So we have to bury them instead for them to just be in the morgue for a long time.

     

    “Those that will be given mass burial are those whose bodies could not be identified by anyone. Definitely, when the necessary arrangements have been concluded, the church will notify the public on when the mass burial will be done.”

     

    Meanwhile, Akeredolu said no fewer than 22 people were killed in the attack.

     

    He said the attack affected 80 people out of which 22 lost their lives, while 56 survivors are on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, St Louis Hospital, Owo and the Owo General Hospital as well as some other private hospitals.

     

    Akeredolu stated this on Tuesday during a statewide broadcast to the people of the state.

     

    He said, “The total number of people involved was 80. As at now, 56 are on admission, two discharged, while the death toll is 22. Efforts have been deepened to prevent further casualties.

     

    “The site, that is, St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo presents a gory war-like scene. The Federal Medical Centre, Owo, the St. Louis Hospital, Owo, the General Hospital, Owo as well as some private hospitals in Owo were filled with the injured, most of who were in critical conditions.

     

    “The most unfortunate part is the lives of innocent children cut down in their prime and some severely injured by the mindless attackers. At Owo, the anger was palpable. The tension was at an abrasive level just as the urge for reprisals was high. Without doubt too, the ripple impact of this heinous act as well as the understandably angry reaction across the state could not have been different.

     

    “I urge our people to be calm but remain vigilant. Do not take the law into your own hands. Leave the rest for government to shoulder.”

     

     

     

  • Owo killings: FG will not be deterred by attack – Aregbesola

    Following the killing of worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State by gunmen, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has declared that the Federal Government will not be deterred in its effort to ensure adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians.

    This was contained in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, on Monday in Abuja, when he paid a condolence visit to Owo to sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the incident.

    He described the killing of the worshipers as devastating, senseless and an attempt to ignite ethnic violence.

    Aregbesola said that the attack was to dampen the moral of the government and Owo community, pointing out that the criminals were going after soft targets because they have been weakened.

    The minister, who conferred with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin III, called for collaborative efforts between traditional institutions and law enforcement agencies in apprehending the fleeing criminals.

    He said that every piece of information on the attack was very important as it would go a long way in assisting the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

    Newsmen reports that some gunmen had on Sunday, June 5, attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing an unspecified number of worshippers.

    Aregbesola visited the church alongside  Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

    They were received by the Church’s officiating priest, Rev. Father Andrew Abayomi.

    “It is worrisome that the attack happened in the South-West that has a measure of peace and tranquillity.

    “While the motive of the perpetrators is yet to be ascertained,  there is no doubt that their cowardly act is intended to cause chaos and instil fear in the people, provoke bloody inter and intra ethnic crises.

    “This could only have been intentioned to destabilise the state and plunge the nation into needless crisis.

    “Their action is capable of widening the cracks in national harmony and peaceful co-existence of Nigerians,  stoking ethnic and religious crises and pitting our people against one another on the basis of primordial cleavages,” he said.

    The minister appealed to them to reject the ugly and backward agenda and refuse to take any rash, inappropriate, primitive and precipitate action in the spirit of revenge.

    “Our neighbours from other parts of the country with whom we have lived together in peace and harmony are not and cannot be the enemy.

    “We must not be provoked to senselessly attack each other in reaction to the evil plot of some nihilists and criminals bent on plunging the nation into chaos and anarchy.

    “Those who attacked innocent people worshipping in the house of God are the enemies. They are cowardly savages and animals, “he said.

    Aregbesola assured that the entire security system of Nigeria was on the trail of the enemies that were responsible for the havoc.

    “We are on their trail, they will be apprehended and made to pay dearly for this unprovoked attack,“ he said.

    The minister said the security of lives and property of Nigerians remained the number one agenda of the Federal Government.

    He said that the Federal Government was going to do everything possible to make the nation secure and peaceful.

    Aregbesola said the Federal Government was outraged by the attack and would leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of it.

    “We must remain irrepressible and undeterred. We should not give the enemies the benefit of rejoicing over us. The attack was meant to dampen our morale and plunge us to gloom and darkness.

    “We must bounce back big time. We should rise to defend our land and take our historic position in leading the black race to fulfil its destiny,” he said.

  • OWO MASSACRE: Tinubu donates N75m to victims, Catholic church

    Presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, has donated N50 million to the families of the victims of the gunmen attack in Owo on Sunday and another N25 million to the church.

     

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made this pledge on Monday, June 6 during a visit to commiserate with the governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the people of Owo.

     

    Unknown gunmen opened fire on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo on Sunday, June 5, leading to the death of over 50 people and others fatally wounded.

    Owo

     

    Speaking at the Palace of Olowo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye in the company of Akeredolu, Tinubu condemned the heinous attack on the innocent worshippers and promised to collaborate with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to help the Owo Massacre victims.

     

    Taking to Twitter, Akredolu shared photos from the visit and revealed Tinubu donated N50 million to families of the victims and N25 million to the church.

     

    “Today, we received the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju @officialABAT accompanied by Former @HouseNGR Speaker, @YakubDogara and other eminent Nigerians who came to commiserate with us over the Sunday terror attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street in Owo.

     

    “We thank Asiwaju Tinubu for the 50million naira donation to the families of the victims of the terror attack and another 25million naira for the Catholic Church.” Akeredolu wrote on Twitter.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had reported that a yet to be confirmed number of persons were killed by unknown gunmen on Sunday, June 5, at a church in Owo, Ondo State.

     

    It was gathered that the attack occurred during a service at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

    Owo

     

    In a video that surfaced online, several persons were seen lying on the floor inside the church in a pool of blood.

     

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described the killing of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church as barbaric and wicked.

     

    Rev. Anselm Ologunwa, the Chairman of CAN, in a statement on Sunday in Akure, condemned the attack.

     

  • Owo attack: Pius condemns attack, says it’s an assault on humanity

    Former president of the senate, Anyim Pius Anyim has condemned the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State by unknown gunmen, stating that the attack is an assault on humanity.

    Anyim gave the condemnation in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Sam Nwaobasi, on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the killing of the worshippers at Sunday service was despicable, and callous, as well as an assault on humanity and desecration of the Church of God.

    The former PDP presidential aspirant wondered why the evil men could enter the sacred House of God to kill innocent and defenceless worshippers,  who had gone to commune with their Creator.

    Anyim further described it as despicable, barbaric, callous, evil and an assault on humanity.

    “I call on the Ondo state government and all the security agencies to go after these criminals, fish them out and make them face the law for the mindless murder of innocent citizens,” Anyim said.

    The former secretary to the government of the federation prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed while condoling with relations of the deceased.

  • Owo attack: Osinbajo suspends political activities, visit victims of attack

    Owo attack: Osinbajo suspends political activities, visit victims of attack

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, has suspended his political activities, for a condolence visit to Owo, Ondo state, to condole with victims of the catholic church attack.

    Recall that Thenewsguru.com reported that terrorists attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, living several people dead and others injured.

    In a tweet by Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Osinbjo. Osinbajo is expected to communicate President Buhari’s message to the people of Ondo state.

    In his tweet “The VP heads out to Owo, (Ondo State this morning) where worshippers were heinously attacked yesterday resulting in many casualties.

    “He will deliver the President’s condolences and message in person.”

  • OWO: Ondo gov describes Sunday’s attack at Catholic Church as a calculated assault

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has described Sunday’s attack at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, as a calculated assault on the people.

     

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu vowed to hunt down the masterminds of the assault, which left many people dead.

     

    The statement reads: “Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, is deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people of Owo, worshipping at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, on Sunday.

     

    “The vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.

     

    “It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.

    Ondo
    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

     

    “I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is presently on his way to Owo. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.

     

    “This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, We shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.

     

    “I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack. I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.

     

    “I urge our people to remain calm and vigilant. Do not take laws into your hands. I have spoken to the heads of the security agencies. I have equally been assured that security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom.”