The St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, reopened on Easter Sunday — ten months after it was shut down over a deadly attack.

In June 2022, TheCable had reported how gunmen attacked the church with 40 people confirmed dead after the incident.

The victims were given a mass burial on June 17, and on August 9.

The defence headquarters said it arrested the gunmen behind the attack.

Ten months after the attack, worshippers trooped to the church on Sunday for the Easter celebration — including those who sustained injuries or became paralysed from the incident.

During the service, Jude Arogundade, bishop of Ondo diocese, called on the federal government to take seriously their responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

“The government of this country has failed us in its duty to protect lives and properties,” the bishop said.

The government must wake up and show strength and courage and make sure those who carried out the evil that took place in this church and those carrying out the evils that are going on in this country are brought to book and are punished accordingly.”

The congregants, who witnessed the attack, while thanking God for their lives, called on the government to tackle insecurity in the country.

They also prayed that God will repose the souls of those who died in the attack.

THE CABLE