The Ondo State Government has said that the memorial park built in honour of the slain victims of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo will be inaugurated soon.
No fewer than 41 worshippers were killed while many were injured when suspected terrorists attacked the church on June 5, 2022.
Following the attack, the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, directed that a memorial park would be built to honour the slain victims.
The park was initially scheduled to be inaugurated last week but was later postponed for an unknown reason.
Speaking during the inspection of the project on Saturday, the Chairman of the Owo Attack Donation Management Committee, Wale Akinterinwa, said Governor Akeredolu would officially inaugurate the memorial park when it was fully completed.
Akinterinwa, who was accompanied by other committee members, guided some Catholic bishops on a tour of the park and expressed assurance that the governor and the state government had shown tremendous empathy and dedication to immortalising the victims.
In addition to the progress made so far, Akinterinwa announced that “the names of the survivors will be engraved on a marble wall, which will be completed,” adding that “the remaining internal work will be finished shortly, after which the memorial park will be ready for commissioning”.
He added, “Today (Saturday), 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 Akeredolu, for his compassionate response to the affected people from the very beginning of this incident.”
Credit: Punch
