- Police yet to prosecute arrested suspects as stakeholders demand update on their whereabouts
Family members of many worshippers of St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, who were shot dead and injured by some terrorists two years ago have expressed pain and sorrow over the failure of concerned security agencies to prosecute the mastermind of the bloody attack and other suspects arrested in connection with the massacre.
They said since security agencies apprehended four persons for unleashing terror on their loved ones, nothing has been heard about their case.
According to them, the thought that the killers of their family members might have been released or being shielded by some powerful figures has been adding sorrow to the already sad situation the attack had subjected them into.
Recall that on June 5, 2022, some suspected terrorists sneaked into the Catholic Church and attacked unsuspecting worshippers leaving 41 people dead, while 69 worshippers were injured in the attack as the bandits threw some explosives to the altar, scattering the religious centre amid sporadic gunshots.
Two years after the massacre, some of the affected church members, residents and other stakeholders of the town have said they have not heard anything about those arrested again, saying no prosecution has been made by the police.
The Defence Headquarters had said four masterminds of the June 5 massacre had been captured by security operatives in August, 2022,
DHQ revealed that through the collaborative efforts of military and personnel of the Department of State Services, four amongst the terrorists who carried out the attack on the Owo Catholic Church were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on August 1, 2022.
Those arrested included Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
Preliminary investigation of the military revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church as well as the attack on a Police Station in Adavi LGA, Kogi State on June 23, 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.
One of the survivors of the bloodbath, Mrs. Folayemi Margaret Atah said she has been in a wheelchair ever since the unfortunate incident, adding that she lost one of her eyes.
Atah expressed pain over the delay in getting justice, saying she has not heard anything about those arrested in connection with the terror attack.
Recalling how the terror gang invaded the church with dynamite and guns, she said, “Myself and my family members came to Church that day for Mass and I was among the church choir, I suddenly heard a blast. Although I didn’t put up my face and I didn’t look at the attackers, I simply fell flat at the spot I was.
There was loud noise and smoke inside the church. Everywhere appeared cloudy and it was as if I had gone deaf because I couldn’t hear anything afterwards.
“When I eventually regained consciousness, I discovered that the whole church had been in a pool of blood. I touched my face; it was all bloody and same things for my body. When I touched my legs, it was like old clothes that have turned into pieces. It was thereafter that others who were also alive became conscious and we started seeing ambulances and people coming to take us to hospitals.”
“Since then, I have been without legs and one eye. But, I thank God for the gift of life.”
Also narrating how he lost his both parents in the attack, a member of St. Francis Church, Onuoah Chinedu Dominic, was almost moved to tears, while demanding for justice.
“I had visited the Church that day to pick one of our Reverend Fathers to another parish for Mass when the terrorists came with sophisticated guns and dynamites. I hid somewhere. After their attack, I ran inside and discovered my mother lying in a pool of blood alongside other Church members that were gunned down. At that time, she was still alive because they shot her in the arm. I took her to St. Louis Hospital immediately and later returned to fetch my father and inform him that we should be going to see my mother at the hospital. I was shattered when I saw that my father had been killed while trying to escape the Church. He was shot in the head,” he said.
Speaking on the condition of the Church since the horrible event, the parish priest, Rev Fr. Michael Abugan disclosed that many have refused to attend Sunday Masses in the church.
He said, “We used to have between 300 and 600 members attending Mass every Sunday but ever since the incident, we now have around 100 persons. Some say they prefer to die in their houses while others insist that nothing will make them stop coming to Church and that even if death comes, it should meet them in the house of the Lord.”
Expressing worry over the apparent silence trailing the arrested suspects, the traditional ruler of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, Ogunoye III, appealed to governments to come out with information regarding the whereabouts of the culprits.
“After the incident, we have been visiting the police station to inquire if there has been any arrest but nothing was said. After some months, we heard they arrested some suspects. But, ever since, we don’t know what has happened to them, whether they are with the police, Army or civil defence, we don’t know.
“We have been appealing to the government to assist with information on the whereabouts of the suspects arrested in connection with the massacre. Are they alive or dead? We want to know,” the monarch stated.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government noted that the matter had been handed over to appropriate security agencies for actions.
Spokesperson to the state governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said, “Ondo State Government had collaborated with security agencies to ensure the arrest of some suspects and we have handed the matter to those whose duty is to ensure that the suspects get justice.”
When contacted, the Defence Headquarters claimed the suspects had been handed over to the police for prosecution.
However, Funmilayo Odunlami, the Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, said the matter is still being investigated and assured that justice would be done.
“We are still investigating the matter. Sometimes when police are working on a matter, it appears as if it is delayed but there are a lot involved in the investigation because we may still need to arrest others that are involved.
“But, we are assuring the people of Ondo, especially the victims that justice will be done,” she stated.