Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has directed that flags should be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities and official residences for seven days in honour of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday. This is contained in a statement issued by Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, on Monday in Akure. “In honour of the victims of this unfortunate attack, I hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from Monday to June 12. “It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state. “The attack on innocent worshipers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo is a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state. ”Those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves. ”We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act,” he said. (NAN)

  The national Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has donated a hefty sum of N75 million to victims of a deadly attack on a Catholic church in Owo on Sunday. Tinubu, in the company of Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, paid a visit to the scene and commiserated with the families of the deceased. He gave N50 million to the victims and N25 million to the Catholic Church. The deadly attack carried out by terrorists claimed over 50 lives including women and children. Governor Akeredolu, who shed tears on visiting the scene of the incident swore to capture the culprits. “What has happened here today is tragic. No better way to qualify it. It is the most tragic event! Horrific! What we have seen in America is a child play to what has happened here. That it happened in a church, to say the least, is most condemnable. I feel terribly sad, and I can understand our people are in sad mood. Nobody will see or hear what happened here that will feel safe.” “But let me tell you, we have a duty to protect you. Our security agencies lost about two men. It was not an expected attack. It was sudden. How they entered and escaped is still surprising. What has happened met us unexpectedly.” “On this matter, don’t retaliate. We know what to do and you will hear it. The perpetrators will never escape. We are after them. And I can assure you we will get them. I am not boasting.”

  The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has condemned Sunday’s attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State where many innocent worshippers were gruesomely murdered and several others severely wounded. The Sultan said on Monday in a statement that the heinous attack is a crime not only against humanity but also a grievous and inexplicable sin. “All peoples of faith should take this attack as a direct attack on all law-abiding citizens and should therefore be in the vanguard to halt the evil that appears to be assailing the life, property and integrity of humanity, particularly believers in God,” Sultan said in the statement signed by Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, the NSCIA’s Director of Administration. The council also urged the governments at all levels to issue and pursue an ultimatum for the security agencies to unravel the identity and bring to book the perpetrators of the violation of sanctity of not only life but also religions. He added, “The security agents, who have been engaged to combat criminality and insecurity, are enjoined to heed the Qur’anic call that: ‘…For had it not been that God checks one set of people by means of another; monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the name of God is persistently mentioned would surely have been pulled down. Verily, God will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, God is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (Q 22: 40)’” The Sultan said that it is therefore mandatory for security agencies to help in rescuing the helpless citizens that everyone have all become. “The council stands in absolute solidarity with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic community, the government and people of Ondo State and commiserates with the families of the victims in this period of immeasurable agony and distress. “May Allah grant us peace and security in our nation. Amin!,” he said.

  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asserted that the alleged silence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday’s gruesome terrorist attack and killing of innocent worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State confirms APC’s complicity and implicit support for terrorism in our country. The PDP through its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba also stated on Monday that it is appalled by the lame and disconnected press statement by the Buhari Presidency which did not demonstrate any presidential empathy, concern, assurances and commitment expected of a Commander-in-Chief, who should be a Comforter-in-Chief in the face of such horrific terrorist attack on the country. According to the PDP, the feeble and insensitive statement by the presidency is a further confirmation of the tacit sympathy for terrorism by the APC administration. “This is because in saner climes the President would personally address the nation on the gruesome murder of many citizens under his care. President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal silence is deafening and points to allegations in the public space that terrorists are enjoying tacit accommodation from the highest level of the APC administration. “It is indeed unpardonable that as terrorists were murdering our citizens in Owo, President Buhari was busy in the comfort, luxury and safety of the Presidential Villa, having dinner with APC leaders and conducting political meetings aimed at perpetuating APC’s fraudulent, insensitive, inhumane and vicious government on hapless Nigerians. “Such actions by the APC and President Buhari, who has woefully failed in his promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front, continue to embolden terrorists to carry out more terrible attacks on our citizens. “The inexcusable stance of the APC also lends credence to the fears already expressed by Nigerians that there is planned orchestration of crisis by the APC in various parts of the country so as to derail the scheduled 2023 general elections. “Nigerians will recall that the APC has never forcefully condemned terrorist attacks in Nigeria since the revelation that the APC imported outlaws from neighbouring countries to assist it to rig the 2019 general elections. “For the umpteenth time, our Party calls out the APC to come clean on the pact it has with terrorists for which it is sacrificing the lives of innocent Nigerians. “The APC must not continue to use Nigerians as expendables in their ignoble pact with terrorists. Such is reprehensible, atrocious and must not be allowed to continue in our country,” Hon Ologunagba reeled out in his statement. The PDP through its spokesman further called on Nigerians not to despair but remain united and on alert, adding that the party is taking firm steps ahead of the 2023 general elections in the mission to “Rescue and Rebuild” the nation from the misrule of the APC. According to the opposition party, hope is indeed on the way as the nation counts down to 2023.

  Former governor of Imo state and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha on Monday described as living a life of double standard those behind the killings and injuring of over 50 people by gunmen at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in the Ondo State, last Sunday. Okorocha stated this to newsmen through his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemedo in Owerri. Okorocha who is also one of the presidential aspirants of the 2023 All Progressives Congress, APC, said he wondered why the killers destroyed other people’s lives but they want to preserve their own. According to Okorocha’s statement, “The former Governor of lmo state, and Senator Representing lmo West senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has condemned, in strong terms, the bomb attack, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, that claimed many lives, on Sunday, May 5, 2022. Senator Okorocha described the attack on innocent worshippers, as a deliberate evil and wicked act, against GOD and Humanity. “He said, evil remains evil and evil acts, remain evil acts, no matter who carried them out and indeed, who are the victims and should be outrightly condemned by all men and women with abiding co science. “Okorocha prayed that GOD would make those carrying out these evil acts, have a change of heart, and let them know that, they are living a life of double standard by destroying the lives of others while working hard to preserve their own lives. “The front row Presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, extended his sympathies to the Catholic Church and to all the families, who lost their loved ones in the unwarranted attack. He also sent his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to the Government and people of Ondo State.” “He prayed that this ugly incident would not happen again. Okorocha prayed also that, GOD receives the souls of all those who lost their lives in the wicked attack, in His blossom. And gives their respective families all they need, to overcome the challenges occasioned by this evil attack,” Okorocha said.