The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has agreed to support the relocation of the demolished memorial park built in Owo in honour of the victims of the 5 June 2022 massacre at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo.
This resolution followed a meeting convened by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa with key stakeholders in Akure, where all matters relating to the incident were addressed and settled. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
The meeting took place at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the Governor’s Office and included senior religious leaders such as the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Stephen Fagbemi, and the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ayodeji Komolafe. Representatives from the Olowo-in-Council also attended.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, and other senior government officials were present at the meeting.
The governor announced that a committee had been set up to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to construct a new cenotaph at a site acceptable to both the church and the Owo community.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa warned all involved and critics of the demolition to avoid inciting statements that could disrupt peace in the community,” the statement added.
Bishop Arogundade and other church leaders present at the meeting described the crisis that followed the park’s demolition as needless. They confirmed the Church’s acceptance of the relocation decision and promised to support the search for a new, fitting site.
The church leaders highlighted the long-standing harmony between the Catholic Church and the people of Owo, noting that the Church was the first to establish itself in the area. They pledged continued respect for Owo’s traditions, the Olowo stool, and the Olowo-in-Council.
Previously, in a statement signed by Bishop Arogundade, the Diocese had expressed disappointment over the demolition, calling it a “violation of our collective reverence for human dignity and the memory of the 41 lives unjustly lost” in the 2022 attack.
The Diocese also noted that the memorial site was lawfully acquired, developed by the state government, and publicly designated as a space to honour the victims.
The Ondo State Government had demolished the memorial park on Monday.