By Adeboye Ado, AKURE
The Ondo State Government, on Saturday, revealed that the names of slain victims of Owo church attack would be engraved on a wall marble at the ongoing construction of a Memorial Park in honour of the deceased.
Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, the State Commissioner for Finance who doubles as the Chairman of the Owo Attack Donation Management Committee, disclosed this to newsmen shortly after a tour of the park with some Catholic Church Bishops.
Recall that gunmen had on June 5, 2022, attacked St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo and killed 41 worshippers and injured 81 others.
Akinterinwa noted that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will officially inaugurate the Memorial Park once it is fully completed.
Earlier in the day, the committee members, along with key government officials including Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, attended a Mass held in memory of the attacked victims.
They later joined Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, the Bishop of the Ondo Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Dr Gabriel Abegunrin, to inaugurate the Memorial Park constructed by the Catholic Diocese of Ondo at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo.
At the inspection tour, Akinterinwa said:”Today, we are here to conduct an inspection tour of the Government Memorial Park with the Bishops and some members of the clergy.
“Although this place has not yet been completed, the Papal Nuncio, the Pope’s representative in Nigeria, has expressed his intention to visit this place and witness our efforts.
“Hence, our presence here today. The Bishops from Ibadan, Ondo, and others have come to see what we are doing and have expressed their appreciation.”
“They have also asked us to convey their gratitude to Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, for his compassionate response to the affected people from the very beginning of this incident,” he added.
