Owo on Edge: Bandits Threaten Another Attack on Catholic Church, Community Mobilizes for Security Summit

OWO, Ondo State – A palpable sense of tension has gripped the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State following a fresh threat by bandits to attack Saint Francis Catholic Church, the site of a horrific massacre almost three years ago. The development has triggered widespread panic, particularly as residents are still grappling with the trauma of the June 5, 2022, incident where no fewer than 41 persons were killed and 69 others injured during a Pentecost Sunday service.

The renewed threat, conveyed in a letter purportedly addressed to the church, has prompted the community to take urgent, proactive measures. The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, has vehemently denied the rumors of a possible attack, asserting that they are designed to cause panic. However, despite the monarch’s efforts to dispel the rumors, the community is taking the threat seriously.

In response, a maiden Owo Security Summit, themed “Securing Owo and its Environs: Strategies for Community Safety and Resilience,” has been swiftly organized. The summit, scheduled for next week, Monday, May 26, 2025, at the Prof. Abubakar Rasheed Auditorium of Achievers University in Owo, aims to address the escalating insecurity in the area.

According to Mr. Bosun Oladimeji, the summit’s publicity secretary, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about community security, foster cooperation between residents and law enforcement agencies, reduce crime rates, and propose sustainable security initiatives. A key objective of the summit is to establish a Security Trust Fund to support long-term security efforts.

Oladimeji emphasized that recent incidents, including the bandits’ renewed threat and a spate of kidnappings, have significantly impacted the socio-economic life of the people, making proactive security measures absolutely imperative.

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Dignitaries expected to attend the crucial summit include Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi (retired) will chair the event, with Hon. Tope Omolayo, Owo Local Government Chairman, serving as the Chief Host. The summit committee is chaired by Pastor Olugbenga Olumolawa, and Professor Taiwo Adenegan will anchor the event. All security agencies, traditional rulers, and relevant stakeholders have been invited to forge a united front against the looming threats.

The community remains on high alert as it prepares for the summit, hoping to implement strategies that will prevent a recurrence of the tragic events of 2022 and ensure the safety and resilience of Owo and its environs.