The funeral mass for victims of the June 5 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State has been held.
No fewer than 40 persons were killed and many injured in the attack which has received wide condemnation across the country.
Venue of the mass, Mydas Resort, Owo, was filled to capacity with relatives of the victims.
Also in attendance at the mass held on Friday, June 17 was Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his predecessor Olusegun Mimiko.
Some clergymen, including Bishop Jude Arogundade of Ondo Catholic Diocese and Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, were also in attendance.
After the funeral mass was completed, families of the victims took the remains of their loved ones for burial in the town.
The remains of the victims were initially deposited at the morgue of the Saint Louis Catholic Hospital in Owo. The Catholic Diocese of Ondo released photos of the victims.
In the wake of the attack, several politicians visited the town to commiserate with the people and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the town on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government. He described the attack as “barbaric” and called on security agencies to arrest the perpetrators.
Some presidential candidates for the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso, also visited the town. While Tinubu and Kwankwaso visited in person, Atiku was represented by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, and members of the state working committee of the party.
Atiku donated N10 million for the treatment of those injured in the attack. Tinubu, on his part, donated N50 million to victims and N25 million to the church.
As of press time, no arrest has been made.
