Akure – Lagos, Ogun and Kwara States have jointly donated N75 million to the victims of the June 5 gunmen attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The donation was made on Tuesday in Akure when the governors of the states paid a condolence visit to their Ondo State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu , Lagos, Dapo Abiodun, Ogun and Abdul-Rahman Abdulrazak, Kwara announced a donation of N25 million each on behalf of their states during the visit.
vitalnews he.com reports that the yet to be identified masked gunmen killed 40 worshippers during the attack on the church.
All the dead victims, including women and children will be buried on Friday, June 17 in Owo, Ondo State
While making the donation, Governor Abiodun announced a donation of N25 million each on behalf of the three states, totaling N75 million to the victims.
Abiodun also on behalf of his colleagues sympathised with Akeredolu and the people of Owo and Ondo State at large, as well as families and the injured victims of the ugly attack.
“We find the attack, not just an attack on the good people of Owo and Ondo State but the entire people of the South-West.
“My brothers and I, have decided to support the good people of Owo with a token sum of N25 million each, totaling N75 million. We indeed pray that such incident like this will never reoccur,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, Sanwo-Olu condemned the attacks on worshippers, saying South-West governors will continue to strengthen internal collaboration and security within the region.
“We had South-West Governors meeting last week and few steps have been taken. First is that we have agreed to have three days mourning period and flags are being flown at half-mast.
“We have taken steps to strengthen and further reinforce the security architecture in the South-West; of course including things around transportation.
“Indeed all of us have condemned the unfortunate, totally unwarranted killings. It is a completely dehumanising incident that should not be happening in the modern age. The act is condemnable and we condemn it in the strongest terms.
“We offer prayers and condolences to families that the incident affected and the entire people of Owo and indeed by extension Ondo State,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Responding, Akeredolu appreciated the governors for the condolence visit, noting that his brother governors in South-West and other parts of the country have been in touch with him and have been sympathising with the people of Ondo State since the incident.
Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, also reiterated the commitment of the governors to the protection of lives and properties of the people in the zone. (vitalnewsngr.com)