The Ondo State Government has demolished the ‘Memorial Park’ built in honour of victims of the June 5, 2022, terror attack at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo. A viral video showed a bulldozer pulling down the cenotaph, which bore the names of over 40 worshippers killed during the massacre that drew national and international outrage.
The memorial, constructed in 2023 under the administration of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was meant to honour the dead and serve as a permanent symbol of remembrance. However, its location—directly opposite the palace of the Olowo of Owo—sparked objections from traditional leaders and locals, who described it as culturally inappropriate.
Amid growing pressure, traditional stakeholders appealed to the state government to relocate the structure, citing long-standing customs and cultural taboos. The appeal reportedly intensified in recent months, leading to mounting calls for action.
Confirming the demolition, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the decision was based on formal complaints received from the Olowo’s palace about the cenotaph’s location