The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Felix Ajakaye, has called for the prosecution of the suspects arrested in connection with the June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State where about 41 worshippers were killed.
Ajakaye also called on the Federal Government and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to give Nigerians an update on the attack on the church.
The cleric, in a statement on Monday, six months after the incident, titled, ‘Nigeria still waiting…’ charged the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to always be “on top of actions, not merely on top of situations.”
The bishop said, “On Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, gunmen attacked the worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. At the end of their unprovoked and dastardly act, it was reported that 41 people had been killed, while scores of people were seriously injured.
“Then, nationally and internationally, there were outcries, condemnations and there were promises. There were also visitations to the church premises and the victims in the different hospitals where they were receiving treatment.
“As usual, the Buhari-led government commiserated with the people concerned. Typical of the administration’s trademark, it vowed to be on top of the situation and fish out the culprits. Practically, our wish is for the government to always be on top of the action, not merely on top of the situation.
“Today, December 5, 2022, is the sixth month of the evil attack, the dead have been buried and their people and other well-wishers are still in sorrowful moods. Many of the injured are equally traumatised.
“Over three months ago, General Irabor, the CDS, told the world that there had been arrests made concerning the Pentecost Sunday attack. A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: It is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more’ (Matthew 2:18). General Irabor, Nigeria is still waiting.
“More than ever, the people who have been in custody since the General’s public statement to Nigerians and the world that they had been arrested need to be prosecuted now. Not only that, General Irabor needs to give the update on the present situation on Owo Massacre.”
