The memorial park built to honor victims of the 2022 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church massacre in Owo, Ondo State, has been demolished on the orders of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The cenotaph, which was constructed by late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in 2023, had the names of all victims inscribed on it and was situated at the heart of the ancient town. A viral video circulating across the state over the weekend captured the demolition process.
Cultural Objections Behind Demolition
According to Ebenezer Adeniyan, spokesman to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the decision to demolish the memorial was taken following complaints from the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, who had objected to the monument's location directly opposite his palace.
"It was a special request from the palace of the Olowo as it is said to be against the culture and tradition to site such near the palace," Adeniyan confirmed in an interview on Sunday.
Local residents had also described the location as inappropriate, stating that "it is a taboo for the monarch to sight such" a memorial dedicated to tragedy victims so close to the royal residence.
Background of the Owo Church Attack
The memorial park was built to commemorate the tragic incident that occurred in June 2022, when armed men attacked St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church during an early morning mass, killing no fewer than 40 worshippers and leaving scores injured.
The attack drew widespread condemnation both within Nigeria and internationally, prompting then-Governor Akeredolu to construct the memorial park in 2023 as a symbol to honor the victims and ensure the tragedy would not be forgotten.
The demolition has sparked discussions across the state about the balance between preserving cultural traditions and honoring the memory of tragedy victims. There has been no announcement regarding whether the memorial will be relocated to another site.
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