Amidst tight security, the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State reopened for Easter service.Ten months after a terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 41 worshipers and injured 41 others. Security was provided by the Nigeria Police Force, Military personnel, Hunters, and the security arm of the church, Men of Order and Discipline (MOD), who were strategically placed to secure the church, which was filled to capacity.

During the service, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, expressed his disappointment in the government’s inability to stop the incessant crimes and criminality plaguing the country. He criticized the government for failing in its core responsibility to protect the lives and properties of citizens and for not apologizing to Nigerians for the unprovoked attack on the church. Arogundade urged the government to take action and bring those who carried out the attack and other crimes to book.

One of the survivors of the attack, Hon. Augustine Oloruntogbe, appreciated the efforts of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and other well-meaning Nigerians who helped the injured and families of the deceased after the attack. Another survivor, Mrs. Josephine Ejelonu, whose two legs were amputated due to the attack, expressed her gratitude for being alive despite her situation. She recounted the horrible experience she had while in the hospital for months. The attackers threw two hand grenades where she was hiding on the corpses of dead victims, and one hit her legs, leaving her with exposed bones and blood flowing.