Ondo State Cancels June 12 Celebration Over Owo Massacre

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has disclosed that the state won’t participate in the 2022 Democracy Day to honour those who lost their lives during terrorist attack on worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo last Sunday.

According to a tweet via the governor’s verified Twitter handle on Saturday, the cancellation will allow Ondo people mourn their dead.

On Wednesday, the State Government gave a new casualty figure from the terrorist attack on worshippers at the church.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, in a statement said as of Tuesday midnight, the number of victims was 127 while 40 had been confirmed dead.

The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, had earlier said the church recorded 38 deaths.

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“The situation report as at 12 midnight, on Tuesday 7/6/22 at St. Louis Hospital, Owo, 39 people were involved and 13 deaths (confirmed). At the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, a total number of persons involved is 84 and number of corpses in the FMC mortuary is 25; female, 17, and eight males,” Ajaka said in a statement.

But Akeredolu on Saturday said the state would be suspending the June 12 celebration in honour of the victims.

“In honour of the victims of the terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Ondo State Government has canceled this year’s June 12 celebration.

“The cancelation is to enable the people of Ondo State mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack,” Akeredolu tweeted on Saturday.