A major human rights group, HURIWA (Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria), has slammed the Ondo State Government for tearing down a memorial built to honor victims of the 2022 terrorist attack on a church in Owo.
Over 40 people were killed in that tragic attack at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The memorial — set up under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu — stood as a place of remembrance and mourning. But recently, it was demolished, and HURIWA isn’t staying silent.
In a statement from its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group called the demolition a “cruel and disrespectful” act. “This is not just about a structure,” Onwubiko said. “It’s about the memory of lives lost and the pain their families still carry. Destroying it is like telling those families their pain doesn’t matter.”
HURIWA blamed the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for the demolition, accusing him of using his power for political reasons and showing no respect for victims of terrorism. They said the move sends a horrible message — that people’s grief can be erased whenever it’s inconvenient for those in power.
To make matters worse, HURIWA also criticized the governor for making rude remarks against the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade. According to the group, the governor’s response to the Church’s concerns showed “arrogance” and lacked respect for religious leaders.
“It’s shameful to try to discredit a man like Bishop Arogundade, who has always stood for peace and justice,” HURIWA said, demanding that Governor Aiyedatiwa apologize to the Bishop and the Christian community.
The group also defended the memory of late Governor Akeredolu, saying he had shown leadership by standing up to religious violence and honoring victims with dignity. HURIWA said it was especially troubling that the Olowo of Owo, the town’s traditional ruler, has remained silent on the issue.
HURIWA called on the Ondo Government to rebuild the cenotaph at the same spot and pay for it completely. They also urged church leaders, civil society groups, and international rights organizations to speak out before other sacred sites are destroyed too.
“If this kind of destruction goes unchallenged,” the group warned, “it could lead to more acts like it, making Christian communities feel even more unsafe and ignored.”
They finished by calling on President Bola Tinubu to step in and stop public officials from encouraging religious tension. “The people of Owo are still grieving,” HURIWA said. “This demolition has reopened old wounds. The governor needs to fix this mistake, rebuild the memorial, and apologize sincerely.
