In a fresh decree, the Ondo State Government has announced that it would be fully cancelling this year’s June 12 celebration, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 12th, 2022.
The cancellation became necessary, according to the state government, due to a terror assault on innocent parishioners at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
The cancellation, according to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, is to allow the entire people of Ondo State to grieve their loved ones who died in the awful incident.
Gunmen had last Sunday rained terror on Owo when they stormed a church where worshipers had gathered for the Pentecost day.
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After the deadly attack, no ferret than 40 people were killed and scores sustained varying degrees of injuries.
In honour of the victims of the terror attack, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ordered that all flags in the state be flown at half-mast for seven days.
The Governor had also reiterated that the admittance of the deadly terrorist group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) that it was responsible for the deadly attack at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, on Sunday was too hasty.
ISWAP is notorious for admitting responsibility for its attacks, according to Akeredolu, which is why he decided not to attach significance to the conclusion by the Federal Government.
The governor revealed this during a meeting with the Christian Solidarity International (CSI), a Swiss-based Christian human rights organization.
The National Security Council had on Thursday stated that ISWAP was behind the Owo attack.
Akeredolu, who described the attack as a crime against humanity, emphasized that the Southwest region had been a peaceful region before the tragic incident.
“The statement is too hasty. I take their conclusion with a pinch of salt. ISWAP don’t hide their attacks. If they have done it, they would have owned up.
“We are yet to know their identity and our security people are still on their trail.”
He emphasized that despite the attack, the people of the state remained unshakeable and ready to battle insecurity.
He stated that the government is committed to assisting the victims of the incident, particularly those who have lost loved ones and those who are hospitalized.
While stating that the moment for state police is here, he also stressed that the country’s current security architecture cannot provide appropriate protection for people and property.