St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State on Sunday reopened for service ten months after a deadly attack on the church by gunmen.<\/P>
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The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that no fewer than 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack by gunmen.<\/P>
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Worshippers who defied fears to attend Easter Sunday service expressed pleasure for the reopening of the church.<\/P>
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Addressing the congregants, Bishop Jude Arogundade, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, lamented the growing level of insecurity in the country.<\/P>
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Arogundade appealed to the government to ensure that the attackers were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.<\/P>
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The bishop prayed for the congregants, especially the injured and those that lost their relatives, promising that the church would not abandon them.<\/P>
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Some worshippers who were unable to control their emotions were seen weeping, while recalling the ugly incident.<\/P>
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Arogundade appreciated the Aids to the Church in Need, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and other donors for extending their help to the church.<\/P>
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He asked the church members to keep praying for those still suffering and in trauma as a result of the attack, stating that the church would continue to comfort those in pain.<\/P>
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He, however, solicited for more assistance from the Federal Government and the well-to-do in the society for the victims and the church.<\/P>
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\u201cWe are still waiting for the Federal Government. These are your citizens; let them know they belong to you. I have criticised you enough but if you do well, I will praise you.<\/P>
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\u201cSome who have psychological issues are still many; but we believe that with our support and prayers they will return,\u201d he said.<\/P>
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Speaking on the reopening of the church, Mrs Jumoke Oyekorode, who lost her mother in the attack, said that the vacuum left by her mother had yet to be filled.<\/P>
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Oyekorode added that it was a good thing for her mother to have died in the church, and thanked God for the reopening of the church.<\/P>
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Also, Mrs Margaret Ata, a survivor of the attack, said that she was happy to be back in the church, though as an amputee.<\/P>
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Ata, who lost her an eye and two legs as a result of injuries sustained in the attack, stated that two of her children were on scholarship. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng )<\/P>
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Source: News Agency of Nigeria<\/P>
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St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State on Sunday reopened for service ten months after a deadly attack on the church by gunmen.The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that no fewer than 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n