Owo massacre: Monarch carpets FG over attacks
… As indigenes rally support for victims, church
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Olijebu of Ijebu-Owo, in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo Ojomo has flayed the Federal Government for failing to stem the tide of ongoing terror attacks across the country.
Ojomo, who stated this on Wednesday while receiving members of the Krown Club led by Yanju Alabi in Owo at his palace said the government’s attitude to the June 5 deadly attack by gunmen on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, had been one of confusion.
The monarch, however, urged the Federal Government to reconsider its resistance to State Police in order to create a more effective and efficient security system at the local level.
According to him, the government does not value people’s security, as seen by gunmen’s audacity in committing mindless attacks on helpless citizens.
He said, “We need policemen to police activities here in Owo. The security of our people does not mean anything to the present administration. They are just waiting for the administration to end without any solution in sight.
“They are not giving enough encouragement to those at the state level to do what they should be doing. When criminals succeed with the first attack without apprehending them, the next attack will be bigger. So we have to find ways that it will not repeat itself again.
“If not for the initiative of our Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, situation in this place could have been worse than this. But it seems this is a direct attack to intimidate us.”
While emphasising that the attack which was meant to test the resolve of the people had failed, the monarch said that government should do more for the people instead of paying condolence visit.
Earlier, the members of Krown Club had visited the church where they donated N500,000 to the victims of the attack.
During the visit, the members which included, Ademola Oshodi, Adesina Kareem, Owolabi Daramola and Olurotimi Asolo called on all Owo sons and daughters to rally round the authorities to provide effective security in Owo and its environs.
They also sought support of everyone to provide succour to the affected families and St. Francis Catholic Church especially to ameliorate the great losses they have suffered.
“It is important at this juncture for the Federal Government to reconsider its opposition to State Police.
“The State Government must also reinforce, reinvigorate and enlarge Amotekun for it to be able to provide adequate security cover for not only Owo but Ondo State as a whole,” they said.
