Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo on Saturday announced the construction of a ‘Memorial Park’ to honour victims of Owo massacre in the state. 

Last year June, over 40 Christian worshippers were massacred at the St Francis Catholic Church located at Owaluwa Street in Owo community. 

Owo community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, is Mr Akeredolu’s hometown. 

The massacre jolted Nigeria and the global community, attracting public outcry and condemnation from local and international organisations. 

Speaking during a tour of the construction site, Mr Akeredolu hinted that the park was being built as a mark of respect that would also allow the state to always commemorate the soul of the departed worshippers. 

He said that his administration was determined not to forget those who were massacred by the gunmen. 

“For us, we are determined not to forget the souls that have departed. They were 41 in number. And others that are still nursing the wounds, although they have gone back to their homes, have been discharged, and some of them are outpatients.

“So, for us, it is just a way of remembering those 41 souls that died,” the governor said at the weekend. 

He noted that president-elect Bola Tinubu, who visited Owo to commiserate with the state during the incident, is expected to commission the park when completed. 

“When this incident (attack) happened, our President-elect was here. I know that by the time we tell him we have this Memorial Park for him to come and commission it, I think it will be a joy to him.

“That will be just a week after his inauguration, I pray he will come so that he can see this Memorial Park.”

Mr Akeredolu was accompanied to the site by Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State for Transportation; and Dare Aragbaiye, his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties. 

He assured that the park would be completed before the end of May 2023. 

“By the time we finish this Memorial Park, it will be a beauty to behold and it is going to measure up to any Memorial Park anywhere because the Architect has taken his time to do so many good work here. It is for us to just wait and see it,” the governor added. 

In August last year, the Nigerian military announced the arrest of the masterminders of the Owo massacre. 

Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, announced the arrest at an with media executives at the Defence Headquarters, adding that the terrorist were captured at different locations across the country.

Mr Irabor said that the majority of the suspects were arrested in various communities of Eika in the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. 

He listed their names to include; Idris Ojo (37), Jimoh Ibrahim (39), Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, and Momoh Abubakar. 

Others arrested in connection with the attack included; Aliyu Itopa and Auwal Onimisi.

The Chief of Defence Staff said some of the suspects are also high-profile Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) members that escaped from Kuje Prison.