Church attack: Akeredolu cancels Democracy Day celebration in Ondo

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has cancelled the 2022 Democracy Day celebration in the state in honour of the victims of the terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in the Owo area of the state.

Akeredolu announced the cancellation of the Democracy Day celebration via his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.

The governor stated that the cancellation was to allow the people of the state to mourn those who died in the attack.

Governor Akeredolu stated: “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.”

The Star recalls that suspected terrorists, on June 5, attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, during church service.

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40 of the 127 persons in the church were killed, leaving 87 survivors out of which 61 are currently on admission in different hospitals and 26 already discharged.

The National Security Council later revealed that the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists masterminded the attack.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made this known while speaking to newsmen, said the imprint of ISWAP was found on the scene of the terror attack.

Aregbesola said ISWAP’s brutal attack on innocent worshippers was meant to cause social discontent and ethno-religious conflict among Nigerians.

The Star