Suspected bandits have issued a fresh threat to Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State—the same church that suffered a deadly attack nearly three years ago.
The initial assault, carried out on June 5, 2022, during a Sunday service, left dozens dead and many others injured, plunging the community into mourning.
Now, a new letter allegedly from the same group has surfaced, warning of another imminent attack.
The threat has sparked fear and confusion among residents.
In response, the Owo community, led by the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, has organized a security summit to address the growing insecurity.
According to the summit’s Publicity Secretary, Bosun Oladimeji, the inaugural Owo Security Summit—themed “Securing Owo and its Environ: Strategies for Community Safety and Resilience”—is scheduled for next week.
The summit aims to raise public awareness, foster collaboration between residents and security agencies, and propose sustainable strategies to enhance safety. A key goal is the creation of a Security Trust Fund to support long-term initiatives.
Mr. Oladimeji noted that the renewed threat, along with a rise in kidnappings, has severely impacted the community’s socio-economic well-being, making proactive security planning more◊ critical than ever.
