Almost a year after the horrific massacre by terrorists, the Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, is set to reopen for worship on Easter Sunday.
The church was the site of a terrorist attack by gunmen, on June 5, 2022, which took the lives of not less than 41 people and left 69 others injured, including women and children who were worshiping during a Sunday service.
The church’s reopening was announced by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Revd. Jude Arogundade during the last Christmas celebration as part of activities for the Easter celebration, News About Nigeria reports.
Arogundade said the church had remained closed following the horrific attack for security reasons and as a mark of respect for the slain victims.
He said: “Since the unfortunate incident that befell our members at the Saint Francis Cathedral in Owo on June 5, 2022, the church has been closed down for security reasons and as a mark of respect for our fallen brothers and sisters”.
Arrests of the suspected perpetrators were carried out by the milliary in different parts of the country, two months after the incident.
Meanwhile, a memorial park for the victims of the massacre is also set to be opened by the Ondo State Government on Sunday, April 9, which is also Easter Sunday.
Nigerians were caught by surprise as news, pictures and graphic videos of the bloodied bodies of victims filtered in, especially in a peaceful state like Ondo, which is also the main state of the South West Security Network, also known as Amotekun.
