Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, has slammed the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to prosecute those behind the attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State, last year.
The church, on Sunday, reopened for religious activities, 10 months after at least 41 worshippers were gruesomely murdered by gunmen who invaded the worship centre.
The Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP had claimed responsibility for the attack but the clergy wondered why individuals arrested in connection with the attack were yet to be prosecuted.
He said, “I want to beg you that if you hear something, say something. You heard about the news of four persons that were arrested some months back. We didn’t hear anything about them again. But I know that those who cause the attack on this church were those who came from Okene and they are members of ISWAP.
“I have tried every means to find out but they told me that terrorists matter is not a matter to be discussed with a civilian like me. And I’m happy and also proud to be a civilian and citizen of this country. So, we hope that one day, we would get to know what happened here about those who are behind this attack. May God help us to overcome this difficult time.”
Bishop Arogundade also noted that the government had failed in its core responsibility to protect lives and properties, adding that it also failed to apologize to Nigerians over the unprovoked attack, which claimed lives and injured unsuspecting worshippers.
He said, “We have to call ourselves back to the greater understanding of what is happening in our society today. I have never seen a nation so comfortable watching the killings of its citizens on daily basis in hundreds. It doesn’t happen in other places, I don’t know why the government refuses to apologize to the citizens they failed. A government that failed or cannot protect its citizens is not worthy to be called a government.
“I wish to say this without fear of anyone that the government of this country has failed us and you pressmen should record me very well, they have failed in the area of protecting the lives and properties of the people. Almost on daily basis, we hear people being killed in their tens and hundreds; many people have even forgotten what happened in this church ten years ago because many more have happened without the world paying attention.
“The government must wake up and show strength and courage and make sure those who carried out the evil attack that took place in this church and the evil going around our country are brought to book and punished accordingly.”
