Ondo Gov’t demolishes Owo Massacre Memorial park

The Ondo State Government has pulled down the multi-million naira Memorial Park erected in honour of the victims of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, a decision that has ignited mixed reactions among residents and stakeholders.

A widely circulated video on Saturday captured a bulldozer flattening the cenotaph, which listed the names of more than 40 worshippers brutally killed during the Sunday morning mass. The assault, which also left dozens injured, was one of the deadliest attacks in the state’s recent history and drew global condemnation.

The memorial, completed in 2023 under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration, was designed to serve as a solemn space for remembrance and reflection.

However, controversy had surrounded the park’s location directly opposite the palace of the Olowo of Owo. Traditional authorities and some community members had long argued that such a structure near the monarch’s residence contravened cultural norms and amounted to a taboo.

Speaking on the matter, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, spokesperson to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, confirmed the demolition on Sunday. He said the move followed a formal appeal from Olowo's palace.

“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,” Adeniyan stated. He also assured the public that the state government plans to rebuild the memorial at a new, more culturally acceptable location.

The demolition has stirred divergent opinions across the state. Some residents criticised the decision as an affront to the memory of the victims and a disregard for public sentiment, describing it as a symbolic erasure of a tragic chapter in the state's history.

Others, however, supported the government’s action, arguing that while the intention behind the memorial was laudable, its placement near the royal palace was inappropriate. They maintained that a more neutral location would be better suited to honour the dead while respecting local customs.

The state government has yet to announce a timeline for the construction of the new memorial site.