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  • Prosecution witness identifies two defendants as ‘attackers’ of Owo church

    Prosecution witness identifies two defendants as ‘attackers’ of Owo church

    • How I escaped with a damaged leg, by another witness

    The second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of participating in the June 5, 2022, attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State, has identified two of the defendants as those who took part in the attack.

    The witness, who described himself as a member of the church and was present on that day, gave details of how the attack took place and the extent of damage to worshipers and the church building.

    The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 ), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 ), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 ) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 ) over the attack at the St. Francs Xavier Catholic Church, Owo.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), the second prosecution witness (PW2), whose identity was protected, identified Qasim Idris (second defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (fourth defendant) as those he saw among the attackers.

    The witness, who was labelled SSB, said the attack took place on a Sunday when the church was about to round off the mass held in commemoration of the Feast of Pentecost.

    He said: “We were having our normal mass in the church; just about the time the church was closing, we heard a gunshot outside the church compound. So, we were wondering what was happening.

    “We heard another gunshot at the gate. Then, there was pandemonium in the church. Everybody was running helter-skelter and asking what was happening.

    “Then we started hearing sporadic shooting inside the church compound. Then, one of the MOD (Men of Order and Defence) of the church ran towards the church and shouted: ‘Lock the door, lock the door.’ Then, those by the door tried to lock the door.”

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    “Then, we heard a sound at the door, and we started hearing footsteps of people running towards the other entrance of the church. They were shooting as well.

    “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, up and down, then he used his hand to beckon to someone behind him to come forward,” the witness said.

    When asked if he could recognise the man who was holding a gun and beckoning to another of the attackers to come forward, the witness said he could.

    When asked to tell the court if the person was among the defendants, the witness pointed at the fifth defendant (Momoh Otuho Abubakar), who shouted in protest.

    At that point, Adedipe asked Abubakar, who was wearing a nose mask, to remove it, following which the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the defendant to move closer to the defendants in the dock so that he could see them properly.

    When he moved closer to the defendants, the witness then changed his mind and said the actual person with the gun and who was beckoning to another person to come was the second defendant (Al Qasim Idris).

    Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, objected to the sudden change of mind by the witness, arguing, among others, that having earlier claimed that the fifth defendant was the person he saw, he could no longer change his mind and pick another person since he had not told the court that he had a problem with his sight.

    Although Adedipe made a counter-argument, Justice Nwite overruled Mohammad’s objection and held that what the defence lawyer should concentrate on was how to discredit the witness during cross-examination.

    When the witness resumed his testimony, he gave further details of how the attack went and identified the fourth defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as one of the attackers.

    The witness said: “At that time, another man emerged with a gun and started shooting at the choir gallery, while the first person who beckoned to the second person started shooting at the people at the lector’s seat.

    “So, as they were doing that, we heard a sound of an explosion; then a second explosion, and the third one. At that time, when I heard the third explosion, I became very afraid and fell on my face to the ground. Then, I heard the fourth explosion.

    “Then, I raised my eyes, I now saw three people. The third one was black in complexion and was putting a bag across his shoulder.

    “He now examined the church by looking at us. Apparently thinking that everybody had been killed, he made a sign as if to say: Let us go. From then on, we did not hear any gunshot again,” the witness said.

    When Adedipe asked him if he could recognise any of the two attackers besides the second defendant, the witness said yes.

    He again moved closer to the defendants in the dock and said: “The person who threw the explosives, I cannot identify. But the person who was beckoned at and the one who carried the bag when they were about to go, I can identify them.”

    The witness identified the fourth defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as the one who carried the bag while the attackers were about to leave the church premises after the attack.

    The witness, however, said he could not identify the person who joined the second defendant in shooting among the defendants.

    He said after the attackers left the church premises, he and other church members waited for some minutes, after which he raised his head when he could no longer hear any gunshot.

    The witness added: “I now raised my head again and saw two people standing up and trying to run away from the church. The two people who were trying to run away from the church were members of the church.”

    The witness also said after standing up he passed through the window by his side, adding that when he landed outside, he saw the body of a woman beside a car and another body of a man beside the fence, near the oba’s palace.

    When asked the number of those killed in the attack, the witness said it was more than 40, while many others were injured.

    He said: “Apart from the people who died, there were many casualties. By the time I came back from the hospital in the afternoon of that day, the hospital was filled with casualties of the attack, among whom were people whose legs were amputated.

    “After the day of the incident, I visited the church on the second day. The church was badly damaged as a result of the explosions and gunshots. The church was filled with blood everywhere.”

    The witness said the DSS invited him to its Akure office in Ondo State during an investigation into the incident.

    He said he made a statement, a copy of which he identified when Adedipe showed it to him.

    The court later admitted it in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Muhammad, the witness said the first prosecution witness in the case was a priest of the church who officiated on the day of the attack.

    The witness, who said he normally sat around the second row in the church, told the court that out of the four doors in the church building, only the main one was locked. He said the person who first came in with a gun entered through the door beside the choir stand.

    The third prosecution witness, a female, who was labelled ‘SSC,’ with her actual identity shielded by the court, gave details of how she escaped with injuries to her left leg.

    The witness, who said she was also in the church during the attack, said she was confused and did not immediately know what to do when she heard the first round of gunshots.

    Led in evidence by Adedipe, the witness said: “I was confused and did not know what was happening until an old woman sitting beside me was killed.

    “I was still confused and seated down when the choir president came from the choir gallery and grabbed me up, and we ran towards the altar. At the altar, I met Brother Chinedu Ojukwu, who helped me to lie down on the floor.

    “And, we were all lying down when the unknown gunmen climbed to the altar and asked us: ‘Do you know why we are doing this?’ I raised my head and looked at him. I did not see him because of the fear in me. But he thought I saw him, and he said: ‘You who are looking at me, you will die immediately.’ And he dropped the dynamite beside my head, and he left.

    “Brother Chinedu was the one who asked me to shift. While sitting, I did not that my left leg was not yet removed from the dynamite, and the dynamite exploded and my left leg was damaged with wounds,” she said.

    When asked if she had any evidence to show the court that her left leg was damaged, she walked off the witness box and showed the court her left leg, which was damaged as a result of the explosive device that she said was dropped by one of the attackers beside her inside the church hall.

    The witness added: “While I was being taken to the hospital, we saw my younger cousin, dead. He was just two years old. He was shot at the back of his head.

    “Thereafter, I was rushed to the hospital by the Reverend Father, Brother Chinedu, and Chucks. When I got to the hospital, I met our CYON President, and I asked about my mother and my siblings from him, and he said they were fine.

    “I was still anxious to see my mother. Some minutes later, my mother arrived at the hospital. She could not recognise me because of the injury. The dust from the dynamite made me dark.

    “She could only recognise me with my clothes. She asked her colleagues to come and assist me. And my father bought everything needed for the treatment that day,” the witness said.

    On what the medical personnel who attended to her did to keep the wounds on her leg in the state it currently is, the witness said the affected leg was operated on four times. She said she was also skin grafted to cover the open wounds, adding that presently, there is an iron inside the leg.

    The witness, who said she is still on medication, told the court that she made a statement on May 26, 2024, when she was invited to the DSS office in Akure.

    She said 41 people died instantly from the attack, while about 100 and something others were injured.

    Under cross-examination by Mohammad, the witness said she came about the number of those killed in the attack from the figure printed on an obituary magazine that was printed on the day of their burial, which stated that 41 people died.

    Further hearing in the case continues today at noon.

  • Prosecution witness identifies two defendants as ‘attackers’ of Owo church

    Prosecution witness identifies two defendants as ‘attackers’ of Owo church

    ‘How I escaped with a damaged leg,’ another witness tells the court

    The second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of being behind the June 5, 2022, attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State, on Monday identified two of the defendants as those who took part in the attack.

    The witness, who said he is a member of the church and was present on that day, gave details of how the attack took place and the extent of damage recorded both to worshipers and the church building.

    The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris 20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) were involved in the attack at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), the second prosecution witness (PW2), whose identity was protected, identified Qasim Idris (second defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (fourth defendant) as those he saw among the attackers.

    The witness, who was labelled SSB, said the attack took place on Sunday when the church was about to round off the mass held in commemoration of the Feast of Pentecost.

    He said, “We were having our normal mass in the church, just about the time the church was closing, we heard a gunshot outside the church compound. So, we were wondering what was happening.

    “We heard another gunshot at the gate, then there was pandemonium in the church. Everybody was running helter skelter and asking what was happening.

    “Then we started hearing sporadic shooting inside the church compound. Then, one of the MOD (Men of Order and Defence) of the church ran towards the church and shouted, ‘Lock the door, lock the door.’ Then, those by the door tried to lock the door.

    “Then, we heard some sound at the door. And then, we started hearing footsteps of people running towards the other entrance of the church. They were shooting as well.

    “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, up and down, then he used his hand to beckon someone behind him to come forward,” the witness said.

    When asked if he could recognise the man who was holding a gun and beckoning on another of the attackers to come forward, the witness said he could.

    When asked to tell the court if the person was among the defendants, the witness pointed at the fifth defendant (Momoh Otuho Abubakar), who shouted in protest.

    At that point, Adedipe asked Abubakar, who was wearing a nose mask, to remove it, following which the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendant to move closer to the defendants in the dock so that he could see them properly.

    When he moved closer to the defendants, the witness then changed his mind and said the actual person with the gun and who was beckoning another person to come was the second defendant (Al Qasim Idris).

    Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, objected to the sudden change of mind by the witness, arguing, among others, that having earlier claimed that the fifth defendant was the person he saw, he could no longer change his mind and pick another person since he had not told the court that he has problem with his sight.

    Although Adedipe responded by making counterarguments, Justice Nwite overruled Mohammad’s objection and held that what the defence lawyer should concentrate on was how to discredit the witness during cross-examination.

    When the witness resumed his testimony, he gave further details of how the attack went and identified the fourth defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as one of the attackers.

    The witness said, “At that time, another man emerged with a gun and started shooting at the choir gallery, while the first person, who beckoned to the second person started shooting at the people at the lector’s seat.

    “So, as they were doing that, later we heard a sound of explosive, there was a second explosive again, and the third one. At that time, when I heard the third explosive, I became very afraid and fell on my face to the ground. Then, I heard the fourth explosive.

    “Then, I raised up my eyes, I now saw three people. The third one was black in complexion and was putting a bag across his shoulder.

    He now examined the church by looking at us. And, hoping that everybody has been killed, he now made a sign as if to say, let us go. From then, we did not hear any gunshot again,” the witness said.

    When asked by Adedipe if he could recognise any of the two attackers beside the second defendant, the witness said yes.

    He again moved closer to the defendants in the dock and said, “The person who threw the explosives, I cannot identify. But, the person who was beckoned at and the one who carried the bag when they were about to go, I can identify them.”

    He then identified the fourth defendant (Abdulhaleem Idris) as the one who carried the bag while the attackers were about to leave the church premises after the attack.

    The witness, however, said he could not identify the person who joined the second defendant in the shooting among the defendants.

    He said after the attackers left the church premises, himself and other church members waited for some minutes, after which he raised his head when he could no longer hear any gunshot.

    The witness added, “I now raised up my head again and saw two people standing up and trying to run away from the church. The two people who were trying to run away from the church were members of the church.”

    He said when he stood up, he jumped through the window by his side, adding that when he landed outside, he saw the dead body of a woman beside a car and another dead body of a man, beside the fence, near the Oba’s palace.

    When asked the number of those killed in the attack, the witness said it was more than 40, while many others were injured.

    He said, “Apart from the people who died, there were many other casualties. By the time I came back from the hospital, in the afternoon of that day, the whole hospital was filled with casualties of the attack, among whom were people whose legs were amputated.

    “After the day of the incident, I visited the church on the second day. The church was badly damaged as a result of the explosions and gunshots. And the whole church was filled with blood everywhere.”

    The witness said he was invited by the DSS to its Akure office in Ondo State during an investigation into the incident where he made a statement, a copy of which he identified when Adedipe showed it to him.

    The court later admitted it in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Muhammad, the witness said the first prosecution witness in the case was a priest of the church who officiated on the day of the attack.

    The witness, who said he normally sits around the second row in the church, told the court that out of the four doors in the church building, only the main one was locked. He said the person who first came in with a gun came in from the door beside the choir stand.

    The third prosecution witness, a female, who was labelled ‘SSC,’ with her actual identity shielded by the court, gave details of how she escaped with injuries to her left leg.

    The witness,  who said she was also in church during the attack, said she was confused and did not immediately know what to do when she heard the first round of gunshots.

    Led in evidence by Adedipe, the witness said: “I was confused and did not know what was happening until an old woman sitting beside me was killed.

    “I was still confused and seated down when the choir president came from the choir gallery and grab me up and we ran towards the alter. At the alter, I met brother Chinedu Ojukwu, who help me to lie down on the floor.

    “And, we were all lying down when the unknown gunmen climbed to the alter and asked us, ‘do you know why we are doing this?’ I raised up my head and looked at him. I did not see him because of the fear in me. But, he thought I saw him and he said, ‘you that are looking at me, you will die immediately.’ And he dropped the dynamite beside my head and he left.

    “Brother Chinedu was the one who asked me to shift, and while sighting, I never knew that my left leg was not yet removed from the dynamite, and the dynamite exploded, and my left leg was damaged with wounds,” she said.

    When asked if she had any evidence to show the court that her left leg was damaged, she walked off the witness box and showed the court her left leg, which was damaged as a result of the explosive device that she said was dropped by one of the attackers beside her inside the church hall.

    The witness added, “While I was being taken to the hospital, he met my younger cousin’s brother dead. He was just two years old. He was shot in the back of his head

    “Thereafter, I was rushed to the hospital by the Reverend Father, brother Chinedu, and Chucks. When I got to the hospital, I met our CYON President, and I asked about my mother and my siblings from him, and he said they are fine.

    “I was still anxious to see my mother, and some minutes later, my mother arrived at the hospital. She could not recognise me because of the injury, and the dust from the dynamite made me dark.

    “She could only recognise me with my clothes. She finally met me and asked her colleagues to come and assist me. And my father bought everything needed for the treatment that day,” the witness said.

    On what the medical personnel who attended to her did to keep the wounds on her leg at the state it currently is, the witness said the affected leg was operated on four times. She said she was also skin grafted to cover the open wounds, adding that presently, there is an iron inside the leg.

    The witness, who said she is still on medication, told the court that she made a statement on May 26, 2024, when she was invited to the DSS office in Akure.

    She said 41 people died instantly from the attack, while about 100 others were injured.

    Under cross-examination by Mohammad, the witness said she came about the number of those killed in the attack from the figure printed on an obituary magazine that was printed on the day of their burial, which stated that 41 people died.

    Further hearing in the case continues on January 14 at 12noon.

  • Rumpus over demolition of Owo Church Memorial Park

    Rumpus over demolition of Owo Church Memorial Park

    A memorial park built by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to immortalise the victims of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo—where over 50 worshippers were brutally murdered—was demolished over the weekend. The action, taken by the administration of his successor, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has since sparked a storm of mixed reactions and public outrage, writes TOSIN TOPE

    Three years after the tragic massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, which claimed 50 lives and left dozens injured, the Memorial Park built in their honour has been demolished. The park, constructed by the late former governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the heart of Owo, was intended as a solemn tribute to the victims of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack. Designed by Architect Femi Bello, the cenotaph bore the names of the deceased and stood as a reminder of their sacrifice.

    Akeredolu had said the park symbolised the state’s refusal to forget “the souls gruesomely murdered while worshipping.” However, its location—directly opposite the palace of the Olowo of Owo—soon stirred controversy. Many indigenes protested, describing it as a cultural taboo and arguing that the monument’s presence near the royal seat was inappropriate. They claimed it offered no economic value to the town and served only to reopen painful wounds.

    Now, under the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, bulldozers have moved in. A viral video over the weekend showed the memorial and its inscribed walls being pulled down, marking the end of a contentious chapter in the town’s grieving process.

    However, the demolition has sparked public outrage, rekindling the trauma of the massacre—especially among families of the victims, who view the act as a second blow to their collective grief.

    Mixed Reactions

    Among those who voiced concern is Betty Akeredolu, wife of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. She described the cenotaph as a solemn and sacred tribute to innocent lives violently cut short in the despicable Owo attack. In a strongly worded reaction, she questioned the rationale behind the demolition, lamenting the decision of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration.

    “What kind of leadership defiles the memory of innocent souls in such a callous manner? Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s demolition of the Owo church massacre monument is not only an act of profound insensitivity, but also a desecration of sacred ground.

    “That monument, built by my late husband, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, a son of Owo, was a solemn tribute to lives violently cut short in a house of worship. It symbolized collective mourning, remembrance, and healing.

    “To now dismiss it as having “no economic value,” and to demolish it for a so-called “world-class shopping complex,” reveals a disturbing level of moral bankruptcy. A world-class society does not erase its pain to make way for profit. It preserves memory, it honors the dead, and it builds with conscience.

    “This evil act is not just a political misstep, it is an affront to decency. It insults the victims, disrespects their families, and dishonors the legacy of a governor who governed with empathy and stood for justice,” she said.

    A resident of the state in the diaspora, Oluwaseun Akingboye, said the demolition does not serve any good, even if the people demanded for it, describing the action of the government as unacceptable. “This demolition, no matter the sentiment behind it, does not serve any common good! Even if the people, by whatever reasons demand such demolition,

    “The Governor of the state should have given superior reasons why it must be retained; and especially now that it does not defile any culture or tradition of the people. Aketi is an Owo indigene, and none would have known or be more concerned with Owo tradition than him? If it is all about holding Aketi accountable for the donations received, yes let justice be done; but destroying what costs a dime is wrong!

    “It is a show of shame! A pure self-serving move, which must be condemned by all. Why should we vote money, effort, and resources to destroy something that was built by money just to satisfy ulterior motives? This is utterly unacceptable,” Mr Akingboye said.

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    Counter-reactions 

    But for Imole Atuwa, a resident of the state, the demolition is a welcome development. He defended the action of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration, describing it as a sensitive and culturally appropriate decision. Atuwa criticised those condemning the move, arguing that the government acted in accordance with the traditions and values of the Owo people. “There are many suitable locations where a memorial park can be built. Placing it right in front of the Olowo’s palace is not just inappropriate but culturally offensive.

    “We must respect the sanctity of traditional institutions. Moreso, No one is against honoring the dead, but it must be done with cultural sensitivity and respect for traditional rulers. If a community rejects the location based on deep rooted values, that decision deserves understanding, not condemnation.

    “So before rushing to condemn the government’s decision, take a moment to appreciate the delicate balance between honouring the dead and preserving the sanctity of the traditions,” he said.

    Obabusiyi Bunmi Abiodun said the demolition should not have generated reactions, saying governor Aiyedatiwa was only following the demands of the indigenes of Owo, who are direct beneficiary and against the location of the memorial park. “This matter shouldn’t be a topic for discussion. Owo people said they don’t want the memorial park anymore; they even stage a protest few months ago agitating for the demolition of the park.

    “Now, after due consultation with major stakeholders in Owo, the governor ordered the demolition. So, leave the governor out of the matters. Owo people are comfortable with the demolition.

    But Richard Olatunde, a former Chief Press Secretary to late Akeredolu, decried the demolition, saying it was important to defend and set the record straight in honour of his former principals. According to Olatunde, the park was constructed by late Akeredolu to celebrate the lives and memories of the victims of the horrific attack, and no single body was interred in the cenotaph. He recalled that the late Akeredolu convened a meeting with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, his chiefs, and political appointees from Owo, where he outlined his vision for the memorial park.

    “He (Akeredolu) explicitly stated that no corpses would be buried there and sought the Olowo’s approval. He also offered an alternative: if the Olowo was not comfortable with the proposed location, the park could be relocated to Ijebu-Owo or other areas in the town. The Olowo and his chiefs agreed to the chosen site. I was present at that meeting.

    “When the late Governor Akeredolu built the park, he was not playing politics. He acted solely on what he believed was necessary and appropriate. It is sad that some government appointees are now injecting political undertones into this matter. This is very unfortunate.

    “The tragic incident of June 5, 2022, was an international tragedy. Given its sensitive nature, I believe the government should have exercised greater caution in demolishing the park. This action will undoubtedly reopen wounds in the hearts of the victims’ families,” Mr Olatunde said.

    Positing that the former governor responded to the tragic June 5, 2020, attack with courage and resolve, the former spokesman added the late Akeredolu did what any responsible and responsive leader would do anywhere in the world. “This demolition cannot erase his gallant efforts. We will continue to remember the victims of the Owo massacre. They are martyrs who died serving God. May God continue to grant their souls eternal repose.”

    Rev. Fr. Austin Ikwu. Director of Public Communication, Catholic Diocese of Ondo, could not be immediately reached, but sources close to him said the church was studying the development and would react.

    We resisted the site of cenotaph – Olowo of Owo

    The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, said the demolition carried out by the state government was at the instance of the palace and the entire good people of Owo kingdom. Ogunoye, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Samuel Adewale, explained that the decision to site the structure was earlier resisted by the Olowo-in-Council and frowned upon by the people of the community when it was being conceived by the government of late Akeredolu.

    “All advice to the late Governor that celebrating the dead in any guise around the palace is not in conformity with the age-long culture and traditions of Owo was defiantly dismissed.  Even at a time, a protest was made by concerned Owo youths and stakeholders to that effect which the then Governor disregarded. The above position of the palace is vindicated by the enthusiasm shown by the Owo people and the deluge of commendation across sundry media platforms in support of the demolition.

    “The Olowo-in-Council will soon come out to avail the public with the comprehensive details of all that happened before and during the construction of the structure which led to the current development. And before then, we advise anyone with any issues whatsoever against the demolition to make the palace their target and not the listening Governor, (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who is not in anyway responsible for the demolition.”

    Reacting, Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the efforts of his late boss and predecessor, acknowledging that his leadership during and after the Owo tragedy was both courageous and compassionate. Speaking through his spokesman, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor also saluted the decision of the late Akeredolu to construct the memorial park, which he stressed was borne out of a genuine desire to honour the victims and give their memories a place of reflection and reverence.

    He, however, observed that the location of the cenotaph was against the ‘rich traditions of the Yoruba people, particularly in Owo Kingdom’, adding that it was a ‘deep cultural and spiritual taboo to place a symbol associated with death directly in front of the palace.’ “The palace is regarded as a sacred seat of life, continuity and ancestral royalty—and nothing connected to death is permitted to confront it.

    “In line with this tradition, the Olowo-in-Council, through the local government authority, formally requested the removal and relocation of the monument. Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, with due respect to both the late Governor’s legacy and the sanctity of Yoruba culture, approved the respectful relocation of the monument to a more appropriate location—one that still preserves its solemn purpose without violating cultural norms,” he said.

    According to him, the demolition of the memorial park was in no attempt to erase history nor political manoeuvre but a spiritual necessity and cultural correction. “Furthermore, the site will now be transformed into a modern market, a community-centred project that honours the dead by improving the lives of the living,” Adeniyan said.

    “We continue to honour the memory of the victims of June 5, 2022 and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring their legacies endure in dignity, in truth, and in unity,” he added.