Ondo State government and Catholic church family on Friday held a funeral mass for victims of attack on workshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo, Ondo State.
At the funeral service, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu blamed himself and the Federal Government for failing to protect the victims and survivors of the attack.
He emphasized that the security structure of the country must be restructured to stem the rise in criminality in the country.
Akeredolu said: “We have failed to defend these people. Not because we have not tried. But because these forces on the other side are evil and they have supports. They will not triumph over us forever.When I see the sea of heads that are here, it speaks volume. What has happened to us in Owo in Ondo State is indescribable. A lot of words are used to qualify it. Dastardly, horrendous. But I still believe there are words to use to describe it but I’m still short of those words.
“We have just 22 (deceased) in this hall. A few of them have been buried. Because the relatives couldn’t wait till today. But as at the last count, these animals came to the church and murdered 40 people.”
In his sermon, the Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Dr. Jude Arogundade, declared that Akeredolu has not failed in protecting his people.
He said: ”You didn’t fail. You are a strong soldier. Your determination to protect those who voted you into power is unquestionable. This was done by cowards. You have tried your best.”
He questioned why the Federal Government resisted the clamour for state police even in the face of endless attacks and killings across the country.
He commended the governor for designating a memorial park in honour of the victims, stressing that those who created the situation that made the incident happened have bloods on their hands.
The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev Emmanuel Badejo, in his message, called on relatives of the victims to take heart and allow God to fight their battle.
He said: “It will not be an exaggeration at all to begin this funeral mass with Psalm 22 where David said: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” This is not a homily, am happy to preach at all. And it is not an occasion which any of you ever pray to witness in this side of the world of our country.No doubt, we all gather today in deep sorrow and mourning, for this funeral mass of over 40 of our departed people who were brutally murdered, mindlessly massacred while at worship at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on Pentecost Sunday.
