The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has described the attack and killing of worshipers at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State by yet to be identified gunmen on Sunday as worrisome and senseless.
Speaking when he visited the scene of the attack on Monday, the former Osun state governor reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to providing adequate security for the lives and property of the citizenry.
The Minister noted that the killing of the worshipers is devastating and an attempt to engender ethnic war.
He opine that the attack was executed to dampen the morale of the government and Owo community, and noted that the criminals were going after soft targets because they had been weakened.
While commiserating with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin III on the attack, he called for collaborative efforts between traditional institutions and law enforcement agencies in arresting the fleeing criminals.
At the premises of the church, Aregbesola told the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Andrew Abayomi, that it was worrisome that the attack occurred in the South-West as a measure of peace and tranquility.
Aregbesola, while explaining that the security of lives and property of Nigerians remained the number one agenda of the government, added that the government was doing everything possible to make the nation secure and peaceful.
He said the Federal Government was outraged by the attack and will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of it.
“We must remain irrepressible and undeterred. We should not give the enemies the benefit of rejoicing over us. The attack was meant to dampen our morale and plunge us into gloom and darkness.
“We must bounce back big time. But we should rise to defend our land and take our historic position in leading the black race to fulfill its destiny,” the Minister concluded
