Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, has reopened for worship after being closed for 10 months due to the devastating terrorist attack that occurred on June 5, 2022, resulting in the de@th of 41 innocent worshippers and leaving over 60 injured.
Since the tragic event, the church has been shut for security concerns and as a sign of respect for those murdered.
During the Easter Sunday service, the Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Jude Arogundade, led hundreds of worshipers in the reopening and praised their dedication to God. He encouraged them to pray for the souls of the deceased and their families.
In his sermon, Arogundade expressed his sorrow at the massacre and declared that it would go down in Yorubaland history as the worst thing that could have happened in a church. However, he emphasized that the tragic event could not be used to intimidate the church or its members.
The Bishop urged the members to participate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ by growing in their trust in God and serving Him. He also criticized the government for its failure to protect its citizens, stating that “a government that cannot protect its citizens is not worthy of being called a government.”
Despite the permanent scars left on the survivors, some of the victims of the attack expressed gratitude to God for their survival. Josephine Ejelonu, who had her legs severed by explosives, expressed her appreciation to God for her continued survival.
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