Sunday, 5th June 2022 would remain indelible in the annals of Ondo State particularly that of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo as the day recorded the most heinous desecration of the human life ever witnessed in the recent history of Nigeria’s South Western Region.
The parishioners of St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State had on Sunday, the 5th day of June 2022 congregated in their Church for the celebration of the solemnity of Pentecost, a great feast which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Mass presided over by the Assistant Priest of St. Francis Owo for the celebration of Pentecost was almost at it’s end when the least unexpected and the most terrible happened- dare devil terrorists invaded the Church and launched an unprecedented attack on harmless and hapless worshippers, employing sophisticated guns and dynamites. By the end of the satanic occurrence, 41 lives had been abruptly and brutally terminated with several others inundated with injuries in major proportions.
No doubt, the terrorist incident attracted the condolences and support of some prominent Nigerians and the world at large, including Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then a presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Special commendation must be given of the quality of leadership and compassion demonstrated by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON during the incident. Earlier as Chairman of the South Western Governors Forum, Akeredolu had etched his name in gold for championing and midwifing to reality, despite the seemingly indisposition of the Federal Government at the time, the existence of the South Western Security Network (Amotekun) which is now a strong collaborator with the security agencies in the protection of lives and properties in the South West region of Nigeria.
The heavy burden of managing the post incident effects of the attack on the victims had fallen principally on the shoulders of the Catholic Church in Ondo State under the leadership of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Ayodeji Arogundade. With the support of the state government and other stakeholders, the Church has been able to successfully weather the storm. Bishop Jude Arogundade would appear to have been divinely moulded for the task given his experience and stellar performance in counselling the victims of the Osama Bin Laden led 9/11 terrorist attack in the United States, then as a priest on further studies working in the Archdiocese of New York, United States of America.
It is however gratifying that one year after the heinous crime and resulting deaths and sorrow, the memories of the fallen victims are still being treasured by the Church and the State with a week long one year remembrance programme held between 5th June – 10th June 2023 featuring among others the commissioning of two memorial parks at Owo, each built by the Government of Ondo State and the Catholic Diocese of Ondo respectively and.
Sadly, however, it is now one year since this heart-wrenching atrocities which inflicted on many hitherto happy families unexpected and unquantifiable sorrow. Strangely, the perpetrators of the horrendous acts have not been brought to face justice , nor does it appear or seem that there is any hope that justice would be served.
In the wake of the incident, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Lucky Irabor, CFR had in a widely publicised press conference informed the whole world that the Army had arrested some suspects in connection with the incident, see “Two more suspects linked to Owo attack arrested – Punch Newspapers” https://punchng.com/two-more-suspects-linked-to-owo-attack-arrested/?amp. Despite what appears as the highly spirited efforts of the security agencies to nab the unscrupulous elements responsible for the crime, it is not heartwarming that one year after, the prosecution of the suspects is yet to commence and nothing has been heard about the state of the investigation, if any, commenced into the matter.
The point must be made with humility that no amount of financial compensation or consoling words can adeqately comfort or assauge the feelings of the victims of the atrocities some of whom are now orphaned, widowed, permanently incapacitated and completely emotionally shattered in such proportions that life would never be the same again.
As a constitutional democracy, Nigeria is constructed, among other fundamental principles, on the social ideals of freedom, equality, and justice as enshrined in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
It is thus crucial to invite the attention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to the moral and legal obligation on the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that the victims of the Owo terrorist attack of 5th June 2023 get justice. Justice could be served only by bringing the perpetrators of this enormous and heinous crime against humanity before the law through their diligent prosecution before the courts.
His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is urged to direct the Inspector General of Police to constitute a high powered team of investigators to collaborate with the Nigerian Army for a watertight investigation of the matter with a view to commencing the prosecution of the suspects.
No matter how long it could take, justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done.
▪︎ Adodo, Esq. is a legal practitioner and Notary Public, based in Abuja.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
