The Ondo State government has demolished the memorial park built in honour of victims of the horrific attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, following pressure from traditional authorities.
In a video that circulated widely on Saturday, a bulldozer was seen tearing down the cenotaph.
The structure had been erected to commemorate over 40 worshippers killed during the June 5, 2022 massacre, one of the deadliest attacks on a church in Nigeria’s history. Dozens more were injured when armed men opened fire during mass.
The memorial was commissioned in 2023 by the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, as a tribute to the victims and a symbol of collective mourning.
It was sited directly across from the palace of the Olowo of Owo, a location that soon became a point of contention.
While many saw the site as fitting and close to the heart of the town, some traditional leaders and indigenes argued that placing a cenotaph so close to the palace went against Owo’s customs.
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On Sunday, June 22, the state government confirmed the demolition. Spokesperson to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the decision followed formal complaints from the 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 explained. He added that a new memorial would be built at a different location.
Despite the sensitive nature of the decision, many residents expressed support for relocating the park.
They said honouring the dead should not come at the expense of local traditions and welcomed the promise to rebuild the monument elsewhere.
For the grieving families and community members, the memory of the Owo massacre remains raw.
And while the cenotaph may no longer stand where it once did, calls for justice and healing continue to echo across the state.