Akeredolu promises land for mass burial of Owo terror attack victims, says 127 persons involved, 40 dead

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday promised the Catholic church that the state government would provide land in a befitting environment for the mass burial of the victims of the Owo terror attack.

Akeredolu, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, gave the assurance when he received a team of Catholic Bishops from the South-West led by Most Reverend Leke Abegunrin.

The governor also gave an updated figure of the victims of the attack after harmonization of reports from the various hospitals where the victims were admitted.

According to him, 127 persons were involved in the attack while 61 survivors were still on admission in different hospitals, with 26 persons already discharged.

Akeredolu said people should discountenance the figures earlier rolled out.

He said: “What we witnessed in Owo on that Sunday, I have been looking for a word to describe it but I’m not too sure I can find one because it is indescribable. There is no word to describe it. If you say horrific, dastardly, horrendous, all those ones are common words and we use them for many things.

“But I have been looking for a better word to use because we have witnessed barbaric elements, animals in human’s skin. If you are human you would not do what they have done. May be there are areas where they will do such a thing and they are not worried. But here were are worried because it is not something we are used to. Human life means a lot to us.

“That is why one is moved. We will have a Memorial Park here where those who died in the attack will be buried. My Bishop sir, we will find a good place as a Memorial Park. It will also be my suggestion that even if there are people who have retrieved their family or members of their family, we must still have a symbolic grave there for them. And it will be there forever, it is not something we can forget and we should never forget it.”

Speaking on the updated figures, the governor said: “The medical team led by the Commissioner for Health has sent figure to us, and it is slightly different. What I put out during my address on the broadcast to the State was wrong and we must accept it.

“The figure I have now shows that 127 persons were involved, and that the number of death now is 40. On admission receiving treatment we have 61. 26 have been discharged. Those are the figures we have now from the commissioner for health. So, government is not hiding anything.

Earlier, Bishop Abegunrin, expressed his sadness over the unexpected attack, describing it as an attack on God.

“We were saddened when watching on our small phones and later in the evening the whole episode as it was on the public television, it was really sad. The Bishop of Yoruba land in Lagos and Ibadan province are here to commiserate with you, Owo people, the people of Ondo State and with our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church and Ondo Diocese.

“It is very painful, it can provoke people to retaliate and do what is ungodly but we are people of faith; we leave everything to God to judge but humanly speaking, we heard what you have been doing in the state that those people who did this havoc to us will be brought to book before long and we are happy about that.

“For some time now since Amotekun started we know what you have been doing in Ondo State, that you are protecting the people in cities and villages. Even with threat and warnings, you shun every threat to provide security for the people and their property.

“They attack human beings, but our own interpretation is that they attack God and the consequences are awaiting them. Whatever you have to do to bring them to book l, I pray God to assist and protect you. We thank you for your action, you are not just a Governor but filled with action. You are articulate, you are not afraid. You made your place known loudly and openly that you are not for nonsense and that you are for your people and Nigeria”, the Bishop said.

Also, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, said the visit was to comfort one another and also inform the Governor about the plan to organize a befitting burial for the lost souls.

“We are gathered here to comfort one another, it has been very difficult and painful not just because the incident happened in Owo but in Ondo Diocese. We are preparing for the funeral of the people who died at the incident.

“You have always taken the Catholic Church so highly in everything, that is the kind of person you are because you love God and respect him and you are a man of your word, you are the kind of leader we look up to in Yoruba land and Nigeria,” he said.