Six weeks after the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo , Ondo State, a group, Owo Nucleolus Club, has appealed to security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act who killed no fewer than 40 people and injured many worshippers.
The group also said it was high time Nigerians rose up to defend themselves in the face of unending security challenges, terrorist attacks, kidnapping and banditry, among others.
The National President of the club, Lt. Col. Yakubu Anifowose (retd.), stated this when members of the club paid a condolence visit to the Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
During the visit, the group donated a sum of N500,000 to the church to aid the victims of the terrorist attack.
Represented by the Chairman of Owo Zone of the group, Sir Michael Eniayewu, the president of the club described the attack as wicked and barbaric.
Anifowose said, “The attacks, by their action, have shown that they (terrorists ) are animals in human skin and we are calling on our security agencies to fish them out to face the law.
Eniayewu, in his own personal opinion called for firearms permit to Nigerians to defend themselves since security agencies in the county could no longer protect lives and properties of the people.
He said, “The security situation in the country is so terrible, fearful and posing great danger to the right to live by citizens and residents. We have been hearing of banditry, terrorist attacks, kidnapping and ritual killings in some parts of the country until the dastardly attack and killing of armless parishioners at the Saint Francis Catholic Church on June 5, where no fewer than 40 people were massacred.
“It is really a shameless thing. Those in the seat of power need to do something fast. It is obvious that the security agencies have failed and by that, the citizens should be allowed to carry arms and also defend themselves with whatever way they can do it.”
The community leader also called on the people to be vigilant and report strange faces in their communities to the various community heads and leaders.
Receiving the visitors, a priest in the church, Rev. Fr. Charles Oluseebi, who thanked the club for the gesture, described the support as great.
The club later visited the Olowo of Owo in his palace to also condole with the monarch. Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, who was represented by the Ojumu of Owo Kingdom, High Chief Olanrewaju Famakinwa, thanked them for coming to identify with the Olowo and the people of Owo.
