Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akererdolu has announced the cancellation of this year’s Democratic day the state government has cancelled the June 12 celebrations in honour of the victims of the Owo attack.
St Francis Catholic Church in Owo was attacked by gunmen on June 4, with at least 40 people killed, and over 60 persons injured.
On Thursday, the federal government claimed the attack was masterminded by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Akeredolu announced the cancellation on a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Saturday, saying the cancellation was to allow Ondo people mourn the deceased.
Democracy Day is celebrated on June 12 of every year.
On Friday, the federal government declared Monday as public holiday in commemoration of Democracy Day.
“In honour of the victims of the terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Ondo State Government has canceled this year’s June 12 celebration,” the governor wrote on Twitter.
“The cancellation is to enable the people of Ondo State mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack.”
The State Government had on Wednesday given a new casualty figure from the terrorist attack on worshippers at the church.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, in a statement said as of Tuesday midnight, the number of victims was 127 while 40 had been confirmed dead.
The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, had earlier said the church recorded 38 deaths.
“The situation report as at 12 midnight, on Tuesday 7/6/22 at St. Louis Hospital, Owo, 39 people were involved and 13 deaths (confirmed). At the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, a total number of persons involved is 84 and number of corpses in the FMC mortuary is 25; female, 17, and eight males,” Ajaka said in a statement.
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