Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, shares his thoughts with PETER DADA on the recent reopening of the St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State after the attack on the church by some suspected terrorists on June 5, 2022
How do you feel now that the church had been reopened 10 months after the terror attack on its members?
The reopening of St. Francis’ Church shows the extent of recovery of the Diocese of Ondo and the people of Owo since the terror attack on Pentecost Sunday of June 5, 2022. The attack took the lives of 41 worshippers and left 83 people with different levels of injuries. I have mixed feelings about the reopening of the church. I have joy that at last, the church is opened again and the question on why such attack on worshippers ever happened at all.
Well, the parishioners of St. Francis’ Church can go back to their church instead of the makeshift site that was provided at Ipele in Owo where they have been attending masses since the attack 10 months ago. There is a sigh of relief that the church is now opened for worship while we deal with other issues of recovery and security.
For the past 10 months that the incident happened, there has not been any arrest of the perpetrators. What is your comment about this?
That is the burden that the security forces and the Federal Government have to bear as long as the perpetrators and their sponsors are still walking on our streets. As you are aware that the number of such crimes that are unresolved in Nigeria is unprecedented? Reports of mass murder carried out by the so-called ‘unknown gunmen’ are on our pages of newspapers almost every day. Unresolved crimes at all levels of government and society have simply reduced Nigeria to an active crime scene and I don’t think that is an image any government wants to bequeath to posterity. Criminals are emboldened as many of them get away with crime. Terrorism is a federal crime and I have been told that I don’t need to know how government is dealing with the investigation; we leave our faith in the hands of God.
During your homily on Easter Sunday in the church, you complained about the lingering security challenges in the country. You have talked about these challenges several times and the government appears not to be listening. Can we say the government is deliberately being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians in this regard?
The crisis of insecurity in Nigeria is a topic that one needs to be cautious about because so much is unclear about how we got to this point. There was a time when the entire country was almost overrun by gunmen whose origin and countries have continued to be a subject of debate. A governor was once alleged to have said that invaders had been paid off not to kill Nigerians anymore. A spokesman for government once said the killings will continue if states refused to give up their lands.
The most ridiculous one was when the governor of a neighbouring state accused his political opponent of romancing with the group that carried out the attack in Owo. All of these are in the public domain and I think our government knows what it is doing. No one can pretend to know more than the government and the security forces about Nigeria security. The issue of security is so important for a government not to be concerned. This question should be directed to the appropriate quarters.
If a servant of God like you is talking to the government and there is no change in the security problem of the country, how then does the church protect itself in this kind of situation?
Christians in Nigeria do not have a different country. We are Christians and citizens of Nigeria like people of other faith and religious persuasion. It is government’s primary responsibility to protect its citizens and be held accountable when it fails in its duty. Whether the attack is on Christians or Muslims or anyone, it is the responsibility of government to enforce the laws. It is a call to anarchy if religious groups and communities begin to procure arms to protect themselves. It is a shame that the Federal Government that has exclusive control over the security forces in Nigeria is overwhelmed and unable to secure the country. The same Federal Government is also quick to oppose the proposition for state police. To effectively secure our country and minimise crime rate, there is the need to overhaul the strategy and expand the size and structure of policing Nigeria. Until priority is given to security of lives and property, there’s not much that organisations and communities can do.
The Ondo State Government said it had commenced the construction of a memorial park in Owo in honour of the deceased victims. Is the church happy about this development?
The victims are citizens of Nigeria, and our state government reserves the right to respond to the disaster in their own way. Among other things, I think constructing a memorial park is a civilised way of honouring the memory of our law-abiding citizens who were shamefully murdered in their place of worship. There are other things that the state government has done, like footing the hospital bills of victims treated at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo and supporting their families to get back to their normal lives. Yes, the church is proud of Ondo State Government for showing civility and humanity both of which seem far from our society today.
It was learnt that many of the parishioners who witnessed the massacre (but escaped) have yet to recover from the trauma. Is the church having any plan to organise a psychological rehabilitation programme for them?
Weeks after the incident, a group of religious sisters (nuns and trained counsellors) visited families in their homes to offer counselling to the bereaved. There is an ongoing group therapy and other clinical interventions in the parish. Individuals and families suffering serious post-traumatic stress were referred to specialists for further care.
You know many of our people prefer to grieve quietly and want to go about their lives bearing their wounds. The parish community of St. Francis’ Church and the Lumen Fide Youth Empowerment Agency of Ondo Diocese will continue to reach out to families and individuals with special needs to bring relieve to all the victims. The psychological rehabilitation is ongoing.
Although the church has been reopened, we gathered that it still needs money to complete the renovation. Which area is yet to be touched?
The status of St. Francis Parish Church, Owo, has changed from its pre-massacre time. It is now a monument, a place of remembrance for the martyrs of Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022. It is now a pilgrimage centre of some sorts that will make people think about the 41 people who died at Mass while celebrating Pentecost Sunday. We must give it a facelift that will befit its new status. It is a place of prayers people across the world will visit. So, it has to meet the standard of places of remembrance around the world that has similar pedigree.
The Bible teaches us about forgiveness. In your own view, how does one forgive the unrepentant criminals going by the level of havoc they had wreaked in the House of God?
Forgiveness is a standard teaching in Christianity. It is fundamental to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ; so, basic to Christian life. We have forgiven those who attacked us on June 5, 2022 and call them to repent and change their lives. The magnitude of the crime cannot stop us from living our faith according to the command of Jesus Christ. We will continue to pay for their repentance in line with our faith and hope the government will play their role according to the law. We have the difficult duty as citizens to continue to ask our government to stop the killings and to promote good citizenship among Nigeria.
It can be observed that the Catholic Church has always being the victim of terror attacks. We have had kidnapping of priests across the country, kidnapping and killing of worshippers among others. What do you think can be responsible for this? Why is the Catholic Church always their target?
It goes to show the level of decay in the country; the decay resulting from years of piles upon piles of unresolved crimes. When criminals know that they can get away with their crimes, they will be emboldened to commit the crime again and again. In a civilised society, even in times of war, soldiers don’t attack priests because of the role they play defending life and the dignity of the human person and also because they are men of God. In a healthy society, people run into a church and mosque when they are in danger to take refuge in God’s house. Yes, attack on churches, not just the Catholic Church, have increased in the past years. Sometimes the number depends on the ones that make the news. The rise in the attack of priests and churches are the arguments made in support of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
With all these challenges facing the country, how hopeful are you that things will get better in the country and what should the people do?
We have to remain hopeful that Nigeria will one day pull itself up from completely drowning in its own mess. It is a fallacy to think that we can vote criminals into office to clean up crime, for no one can give what he or she doesn’t have. Also, the thought that there is a hero somewhere who can change Nigeria all alone is a dream that should be dismissed. We all have to save Nigeria together and men and women of character with deep sense of country must lead in the effort to do so. There must be a conscious effort to reintroduce all moral and ethical principles and guidelines that give rise to a healthy society. It will be a daunting task but possible for a society that is willing and ready.
By the end of next month, this current Federal Government will go, and another government will come on board, what is your message to the incoming government?
The incoming government should restore the confidence of citizens in Nigeria once more. It should engage the services of those who have the capacity to save this country. Restructure Nigeria and enforce its laws. The incoming government should also know that leadership is not about power but about purpose, not about popularity but integrity. This is not the time for political fun and games. This is an opportunity for a new beginning. Again, a new government should put aside the feelings of frustration and helplessness about Nigeria and its institutions. It should reduce cooperate stealing and corruption, invite all Nigerians to a clear and responsible plan to reduce burden of economic depression and debt on Nigeria families and businesses. In God, you must place your hope and trust.
