A three-day mourning period was declared by the Owo State Government on Monday, June 13, in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Olubamiwo Adeosunm, the decision is in line with the communique presented at the end of a virtual meeting of the Governors of the South-West states conducted on June 10.
Because of the decision, Adeosun said that Governor Seyi Makinde has consented that flags be flown at half-mast from Monday, June 13 onwards to Wednesday, June 15, in honour of the deceased victims.
The statement was signed by Governors Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun; Seyi Makinde, Oyo; Gboyega Oyetola, Osun and Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos said, “The governors criticised in extreme terms the horrific crime perpetrated by terrorists against the people and citizens of Owo, Ondo State and by extension the peace-loving people of the South-West.”
The governors further said with great shame, the increasing rage about spaces taken over by unknown and unidentified migrants in all South-West states, said the statement.
The governors’ meeting suggested an increase in the extent of management of the activities of the undocumented settlers by specific security agencies in all the states.
As chief security officers, the governors decided to persist in assisting the security agencies in crisis management and intelligence gathering at all terms.
The governors then examined reports from different states on the factors militating against security and peace in the region.
It further said that the South-West governors chose to reconvene the South-West Security Committee to look into the risk of Okada riders’ influx.
The committee will later submit its conclusions on the desirability of okada operations in the region and develop a multi-level template to fight the menace of insurgency and terrorism in the area.
