Tension in Owo as Cenotaph honoring attack victims is demolished

A fierce wave of anger has swept through Owo, Ondo State, after authorities demolished a cenotaph honoring victims of the 2022 terror attack at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Built under late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the monument stood as a solemn tribute to the more than 50 worshippers massacred in the horrific assault.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration ordered the demolition, triggering widespread condemnation and reopening old wounds.

Viral footage shows bulldozers leveling the structure, which bore the names of the deceased, fueling accusations of insensitivity.

Many residents view the act as a betrayal, arguing it disrespects the victims’ memory.

Reports suggest local opposition influenced the decision, particularly from the Olowo of Owo’s palace, which deemed the memorial culturally offensive.

Critics claimed its proximity to the royal seat violated Yoruba traditions, branding it a spiritual affront.

While some support its removal, others suspect political motives, alleging Aiyedatiwa seeks to diminish his predecessor’s legacy.

Governor’s spokesperson Ebenezer Adeniyan defended the move, citing a formal request from the Olowo-in-Council.

He stressed that the site’s association with death clashed with the palace’s sacred symbolism.

“The cenotaph’s location defied tradition,” Adeniyan stated, framing the demolition as a cultural necessity rather than an erasure of history.

Officials plan to build a market on the vacant land while relocating the memorial elsewhere.

Adeniyan pledged the victims would be honored appropriately, with a new monument in a spiritually acceptable area.

However, skeptics remain unconvinced, demanding transparency and swift action to fulfill this promise.

The 2022 attack, one of Nigeria’s deadliest, saw gunmen storm the church during Mass, slaughtering worshippers, including children.

Survivors and families still grapple with trauma, making the cenotaph’s destruction feel like a second loss.

The controversy underscores deeper tensions between cultural preservation and communal healing.

Moving forward, the government must balance tradition with empathy, ensuring victims are remembered without reigniting pain.

Rebuilding trust requires swift, meaningful action—relocating the memorial promptly and involving affected families in decisions.

Until then, outrage will likely persist, overshadowing efforts to restore unity in Owo.

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