Southwest Governors Declare Mourning Period for Owo Terror Attack Victims

Following the Owo terror attack on St Francis Catholic Church on Owa-luwa Street in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State on the 5th of June 2022, governors from southwest states under the Southwest Governors’ Forum, have declared a 3-day mourning period in memory of the lost souls.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, it was noted that the report was issued after a virtual meeting of the Governors held on June 10, 2020.

According to the statement, the mourning period will begin on Monday the 13th of June and will last until Wednesday the 15th of June 2022, to immortalise the collective loss experienced across all South Western States in the country. 

The communique reads in part, “The recent attack on St Francis Catholic Church, the  Owa-luwa Street, Owo, attract immediate intervention in the whole of South West to halt the insidious phenomenon of insurgency in our abode.”

The governors also directed all flags across the southwest states to fly at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities and official residences.

Furthermore, the Governors expressed discomfort over the increasing agitations about spaces taken over by unidentified migrants in all South-West States. 

Similarly, they recommended an increase in the scope of surveillance of the activities of these undocumented settlers by relevant security agencies in all the states.

More so, the governors expressed grave concern about the influx of okada riders into all parts of the south-west, especially the state capitals.

Consequently, the governors stated that they decided it was time to reconvene the South-West Security Committee to look critically into this creeping menace before it degenerates into another intractable social problem. 

They said the Committee will be expected to submit its findings on the desirability of okada operations in the region as well as submitted a multi-level template to combat the threat of insurgency and terrorism in the region.