Culture

Ogun Worshippers to Invoke Curses on Owo Massacre Perpetrators

By Web News 689

Worshippers of Ogun in Owo council area of Ondo State, will on Thursday conduct open rituals to curse the terrorists who attacked and killed worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo.

No fewer than 50 worshippers were gruesomely murdered by the terrorists who attacked the church on June 5, this year.

The traditional ruler of the town, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye said there would be no restriction of movement for the event scheduled for between 1pm – 3pm on Thursday.

It was also gathered that the purpose of the rituals was for the Ogun worshippers to conjure the power of Ogun to punish the terrorists that killed innocent worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church last week.

The monarch’s Special Assistant Media, Samuel Adewale said that the invocation of ”Ogun curses was on perpetrators of the dastard attack on the Catholic Church in Owo”.

According to him “the traditional step being taken by the worried stakeholders in the community, concerns all and sundry in the land, which hitherto requires the cooperation of everybody.

“This scheduled traditional step for tomorrow, does not in any way disturb the normal daily routine of inhabitants and visitors alike in the ancient town, as there would be no restrictions of human and vehicular movements.

“Please note that, even the designated areas where the people in charge of the invocation are to perform the necessary rituals, are also free for movements but it is only that, there would be strict traffic control.

“To this end, no member of the public is disturbed to carry out his or her lawful economic and social activities as the programme will only last for one hour”.

Mr Adewale added that “Therefore, you are advised to go about your daily life activities without any molestation whatsoever.” Vanguard/Maxwell Oyekunle

News

Owo Killing: Oyo Govt Mourns Victims

By Web News 410

The government of Oyo State has declared a three-day mourning period in honour of the victims of terrorist attack at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

The decision, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, was in compliance with the communique issued at the end of a virtual meeting of the Governors of the South-West States held on June 10, 2022.

According to the statement, the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has approved that flags fly at half mast from Monday June 13, 2022 to Wednesday, June 15, in honour of the slain victims of the Owo Catholic Church attack.

The statement read in part: “The government of Oyo State hereby announces a three-day mourning period in honour of the victims of the Owo Catholic Church massacre.
“Flags are to be flown at half mast between Monday June 13 and Wednesday June 15 at all public buildings and offices.”

The statement further quoted the communique signed by Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos) as agreeing on the following:

“The Governors condemn, in very strong terms, the horrendous crime perpetrated by terrorists against the people and residents of Owo, Ondo State, and, by extension, the peace-loving people of the South-West. “The Governors sympathise with the victims of the mindless attack in Owo.

“The Governors agreed to declare a 3-day mourning period in memory of the victims of the 5th June, 2022 terror attack on St Francis Catholic, Owaluwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, starting from Monday, 13th June, to Wednesday, 15th, June, 2022, to symbolise our collective loss across all South-Western States in Nigeria.

“The Governors noted, with great discomfiture, the increasing agitations about spaces taken over by unidentified and unknown migrants in all South-West States. The meeting, therefore, recommends an increase in the scope of surveillance of the activities of these undocumented settlers by relevant security agencies in all the States.

“The Governors, as Chief Security Officers, resolved to continue to assist the security agencies in the areas of crisis management and intelligence gathering at all times.”

The communique further read: “The Governors reviewed reports from various States on the factors militating against peace and security in the region. They expressed grave concern on the influx of Okada riders into all parts of the South-West, especially the State capitals. The meeting further resolved that efforts be geared toward identity management of Okada riders and stringent regulation put in place for their operation.”

The communique stated that the South-West Governors decided to reconvene the South-West Security Committee to look critically into menace of Okada riders’ influx and submit its findings on the desirability of Okada operations in the region as well as a multi-level template to combat the threat of insurgency and terrorism in the region.

Iyabo Adebisi