Owo Catholic Church Announces Date For Mass Burial Of Victims

Victims of the bloody mass shooting and bomb attack at a Catholic church in the city of Owo, Ondo State, would be given a mass burial on Friday, June 17, 2022, the Church announced.

Recall that terrorists stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church on Sunday morning, 5 June 2022, where they killed at least 40 people.

Naija News understands that the Church was about to close its service for the day when the gun-wielding terrorists stormed the church and began shooting at the worshippers.

Several people were injured from the attack and scores are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center and the St. Lois Catholic Church both in Owo as well as other private hospitals in the state.

In a statement handed to newsmen on Monday, June 13, the Diocese of Ondo’s Director of Social Communication, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, confirmed that the deceased would be buried this Friday.

The mass burial according to the director, will take place at a new cemetery on Emure Road in Owo.

Naija News understands that till this moment, no one has been arrested in connection to the attack and no group has claimed responsibility for the heinous act.

In memory of the incident and to further commiserate with the family of victims, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had cancelled this year’s June 12 celebration in the South West state.

Akeredolu in a tweet via his Twitter handle during the weekend said the cancellation was in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack.

The governor said the state will not be celebrating this year’s Democracy Day rather the people of the state would continue to mourn the deceased.

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

“The cancellation is to enable the people of Ondo State to mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack,” he wrote.