Ten months after a terror attack that killed at least 40 worshippers, St Francis Catholic Cathedral, Owo in Ondo State will reopen temorarily on Sunday for the Easter service.
The Bishop of the Ondo Catholic Diocese, Jude Arogundade, announced the development on Saturday.
“Since the unfortunate incident that befell our members at the Saint Francis Cathedral in Owo on June 5 2022, the church has been closed down for security reasons and as a mark of respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
“The church shall be opened again for Easter Sunday. The government of Ondo State is as well planning to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the massacre in honor of our fallen heroes,” Mr Arogundade said.
But a member of the committee of the church on welfare of victims of the terror attack, Perpetua Ezibo, said some of the injured victims are still groaning in pain.
At least 40 worshippers were killed and hundreds of others injured when gunmen invaded the church during the Sunday Mass. The terrorists hurled explosives and opened fire on the worshippers before escaping from the scene of the bloodbath.
Many of the injured victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre and St. Louis Hospital, both in Owo for treatment.
But the police are yet to bring the terrorists to justice.
Mrs Ezibo, whose daughter was a victim of the attack, told our reporter that about five survivors are scheduled to undergo another round of surgery.
“She is getting better but she is going for another surgery,” she said with reference to her daughter.
“You know she is a young girl. Aside from my daughter, the victims going for another surgery that I am aware of are about four,” Mrs Ezibo said.
“It is not the government that is sponsoring them, it is the Catholic Diocese of Ondo State that is sponsoring them,” she added.
Mrs. Ezibo said some of the victims who have recovered from their injuries have resumed their normal business activities but many still feel the trauma of the incident.
“Some have gone back to their normal businesses, some are still managing themselves while some still have fear in them. That is why we need to go back to that church. Some people may be afraid to come back to the church, as a human being that is normal,” she said.