The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has welcomed the judgment of the Federal Excessive Court in Abuja on the perpetrators of the June 5, 2022 terrorist assault on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, describing it as a major step towards justice and accountability.
In an announcement issued on Thursday, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Rev. Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, stated the ruling marked an necessary milestone within the quest for justice for victims of one of many deadliest assaults on a spot of worship in Nigeria’s current historical past.
“The judgment delivered by the court on third of June, 2026 represents a major milestone within the pursuit of justice and accountability.
“Whereas no authorized determination can restore the lives that have been misplaced or erase the ache suffered by households and survivors, the judgment affirms an necessary precept: that human life is sacred and that those that commit acts of terror towards harmless folks should be held accountable below the legislation,” the Bishop stated.
Arogundade counseled the judiciary for its diligence in dealing with the case and likewise praised safety companies, investigators and prosecutors for his or her efforts in making certain that these accountable have been dropped at justice.
He stated the judgment supplies some measure of consolation to grieving households and demonstrates that the struggling of the victims has not been forgotten.
The bishop, nonetheless, careworn that justice shouldn’t be confused with revenge, urging Christians to stay guided by the values of fact, mercy, peace and reconciliation.
He assured affected households of the Diocese’s continued help by memorial initiatives, scholarship programmes, empowerment tasks, pastoral care and prayers.
Because the fourth anniversary of the assault approaches, Arogundade renewed calls on authorities, safety companies, group leaders and residents to stay vigilant in defending lives and locations of worship throughout the nation.Â
