₦airaland Forum

In June 2022, at least 40 worshippers were killed by suspected terrorists with scores injured during morning Mass at the church

The Ondo State Government has demolished the memorial park built by a former governor of the state, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, to honour and immortalise the worshippers of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, killed in a terrorist attack on the church in 2022.
The cenotaph — which had the names of the victims of the attack and was located at the heart of the ancient town — was said to have been demolished on the order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed the demolition of the monument to newsmen
He said the decision was taken by the government after complaints from the palace about the site of the cenotaph
“It was a special request from the palace of the Olowo as it is said to be against the culture and tradition to site such near the palace.”
Meanwhile, the Olowo-in-Council has said that it warned the administration of a former governor of Ondo State, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, against contruction a memorial park to immortalise the worshippers of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, killed in a terrorist attack on the church in 2022.

This was contained in a statement from the place.

It said celebrating the dead near the palace was not in conformity with the age-long culture and traditions of Owo
It said that all advice to then state government regarding the location of the park was dismissed by the former governor.

“In view of the public reactions generated by the demolition of the Memorial Park supposedly built in honour of June 5, 2022, murderous attack victims at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Palace wishes to say unequivocally that the request for this action was at the instance of His Imperial Majesty, Olowo of Owo and the entire good people of the kingdom.

“It must be made clear that the decision to site the structure in that particular location was resisted by the Olowo-in-Council and frowned upon by the people of the community when it was being conceived by the government of the late Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN,” a statement from the palace read in part.

The palace said the former administration also disregarded the protest by the youth against the location of the memorial park.

It said, “All advice to the late governor that celebrating the dead in any guise around the palace is not in conformity with the age-long culture and traditions of Owo was defiantly dismissed, even at a time a protest was made by concerned Owo youths and stakeholders to that effect which the then governor disregarded.

“The above position of the palace is vindicated by the enthusiasm shown by the Owo people and the deluge of commendations across sundry media platforms in support of the demolition.”

While stating that it would provide additional information on the incident, it urged those against the demolition to direct their questions towards the palace.

It added, “The Olowo-in-Council will soon come out to avail the public with the comprehensive details of all that happened before and during the construction of the structure which led to the current development.

“And before then, we advise anyone with any issues whatsoever against the demolition to make the palace their target and not the listening Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who is not in any way responsible for the demolition.”

In June 2022, no fewer than 40 worshippers were brutally killed by armed men, suspected to be terrorists, with scores injured during an early morning Mass at the church.

In 2023, the late Akeredolu constructed the memorial park to honour the victims.




https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLM9WwhM9aX/&ved=2ahUKEwjP7fG0zIiOAxX6ZkEAHUm4CZQQo7QBegQIFBAF&usg=AOvVaw3qVevWWbvAnC8sFnjJ5oKe


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.channelstv.com/2025/06/23/owo-church-attack-ondo-govt-demolishes-victims-memorial-park/&ved=2ahUKEwjRp5rPyoiOAxUfT0EAHbrwMBEQFnoECCAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1P7yQrAB23j8a3W0d6kyyf

Very sad a memorial is a reminder. Now all will be forgotten. The souls of the departed will hunt Aiyedatiwa for being Foolish.

BTW who is Olowo of Owo to question the governor.

I'm beginning to think Tinubu is not a Yoruba nor a Nigerian, but a Fulani man from Guinea. Anyone having those type of thoughts lately?

...

We ⚠️ ondo people bout this disaster AIYEDATIWA .


Sleep well Arakunrin AKETI

Their masters want the massacre wiped from memory

Zooposki:
I'm beginning to think Tinubu is not a Yoruba nor a Nigerian, but a Fulani man from Guinea. Anyone having those type of thoughts lately?

One in the morning, one at night.
For 3 days.

Don't take it on an empty stomach.

Dear Seun:

RE: Owo Church Attack: Ondo Govt Demolishes Victims’ Memorial Park

0. I know your bot will delete this post instantly.
1. The attack was carried out by Muslim terrorists called ISWAP.
2. The head of all Muslims in Nigeria is the sultan of Sokoto who is Fulani.
3. The Sultan of Sokoto is the chairman of all traditional rulers in Nigeria.
4. The Olowo of Owo is therefore under the Sultan of Sokoto.
5. Now you know why they ordered the demolition in the name of culture.
6. Now you know why Fulani are above the law.

Thank you.

Yours in the struggle



MrRandomGuy

If you think this is about culture and not politics then you must be very slow. Another win for the wicked.

It is very obvious that none of all these people commenting above is from Ondo State.

And so where are they planning to build a new memorial or is the governor a useless person?

Issues like this are always controversial and divisible, especially when it bothers on religion or ethnicity. Hence, I don't like commenting on them. However, I'm a Yoruba man, from the Akoko part of Ondo State. In my place it's forbidden to beat drum during celebration of deaths, around the palace. Our Kabiyesi can't see a corpse, not even that of his parents. So I believe it's because of the beliefs that Owo is pulling down the memorial site.

A memorial park that has been standing for the past three years has suddenly become a disaster. Chai!!

May the souls of the departed through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen

Good riddance. After playing politics with the lives of innocent people, they now built a memorial park. To what use is a memorial park without any efforts to make sure the perpetrators of such a crime were brought to justice? What use? Good riddance jorr.

mrrandomguy:
Dear Seun:

RE: Owo Church Attack: Ondo Govt Demolishes Victims’ Memorial Park

0. I know your bot will delete this post instantly.
1. The attack was carried out by Muslim terrorists called ISWAP.
2. The head of all Muslims in Nigeria is the sultan of Sokoto who is Fulani.
3. The Sultan of Sokoto is the chairman of all traditional rulers in Nigeria.
4. The Olowo of Owo is therefore under the Sultan of Sokoto.
5. Now you know why they ordered the demolition in the name of culture.
6. Now you know why Fulani are above the law.

Thank you.

Yours in the struggle



MrRandomGuy

You're very dull, how is the Olowo under the Sultan of Sokoto when Ondo is almost 70 percent Christian?

I know that a hearse or an ambulance is not allowed to blare siren near the Olowo palace when carrying the dead. However, tradition is not static. We have seen traditions being modified, even abolished in Yoruba and Bini lands.

But sir, how many killer herdsmen has your government arrested and prosecuted? I don't know of any. Fulani have conquered you and seun.

richiemcgold:
It is very obvious that none of all these people commenting above is from Ondo State.

Georgry:
You're very dull, how is the Olowo under the Sultan of Sokoto when Ondo is almost 70 percent Christian?

People just make things up to suit what they want, true or not. I bet the guy has no idea that Ondo has more Christians but that's the internet for you.

Zooposki:
I'm beginning to think Tinubu is not a Yoruba nor a Nigerian, but a Fulani man from Guinea. Anyone having those type of thoughts lately?

He's from Zambian, no be today una madness start...so this is not new

Ironfaceman:
Very sad a memorial is a reminder. Now all will be forgotten. The souls of the departed will hunt Aiyedatiwa for being Foolish.

BTW who is Olowo of Owo to question the governor.

oga if u aren't from there u can't understand their culture and tradition.

Aketi was told clearly that it is sacrilege to built something like that close to the palace cos in Yoruba land d king doesn't see corpses n he doesn't visit burial sites.

Imagine a king having to pass through this route everytime

With your response I can bet u ain't yoruba

Zooposki:
I'm beginning to think Tinubu is not a Yoruba nor a Nigerian, but a Fulani man from Guinea. Anyone having those type of thoughts lately?

yes now

U are very correct, the same way only u n your people believe Buhari was from Sudan


Only kids take u people serious

A lot of the victims of that gruesome massacre were from the east.
Go through the names and confirm for yourself.
That's the truth the press didn't want the Nigerian public to know.

If most of the killed were from his place, both the governor and this inebriated Olowo wouldn't have desecrated this memorial site so shamelessly..

I wouldn't be surprised if in their ethnic chauvinistic mindset, these petty duo consider this move as part of their endless "demystifying battles" against the former first lady of the state, who happens to be from the South-east

Factcheck0001:
oga if u aren't from there u can't understand their culture and tradition.

Aketi was told clearly that it is sacrilege to built something like that close to the palace cos in Yoruba land d king doesn't see corpses n he doesn't visit burial sites.

Imagine a king having to pass through this route everytime

With your response I can bet u ain't yoruba

And you are more Yoruba than Aketi, right?

Oyah, blame the wife..

1-2-3, goooo...

richiemcgold:
It is very obvious that none of all these people commenting above is from Ondo State.

just leave them to their ignorance

They don't understand the meaning of Yoruba culture n tradition, imagine mrrandomguy already linking it to sultan of Sokoto.


U can't blame them, that's how they do rubbish propaganda in their place.

They don't know kings don't see corpses n they don't visit burial grounds but someone built something like burial ground around palace n u expect it not to b demolished

owobokiri:
A lot of the victims of that gruesome massacre were from the east.
Go through the names and confirm for yourself.
That's the truth the press didn't want the Nigerian public to know.

If most of the killed were from his place, both the governor and this inebriated Olowo wouldn't have desecrated this memorial site so shamelessly..

I wouldn't be surprised if in their ethnic chauvinistic mindset, these petty duo consider this move as part of their endless "demystifying battles" against the former first lady of the state, who happens to be from the South-east

A disturbing many more massacres like that have happened all over Nigeria since then

All goes to show that life means nothing in Nigeria no matter if you are from East, West, North or South

The Olowo is under the governor now. Besides we have adopted democracy and we have lived like that for 64 years now..

So if Akete was alive will the Olowo try this shit.

Factcheck0001:
oga if u aren't from there u can't understand their culture and tradition.

Aketi was told clearly that it is sacrilege to built something like that close to the palace cos in Yoruba land d king doesn't see corpses n he doesn't visit burial sites.

Imagine a king having to pass through this route everytime

With your response I can bet u ain't yoruba

Ironfaceman:
The Olowo is under the governor now. Besides we have adopted democracy and we have lived like that for 64 years now..

So if Akete was alive will the Olowo try this shit.

Are u a Yoruba man?

I know u ain't Yoruba so no need explaining tradition to u, a governor can mess up n they will always look at him cos they know he only has maximum of 8 years then after that they will correct his mistakes.


Ajimobi splitted d royal stool of Ibadan n now it has since been corrected