OWO CHURCH ATTACK: Imam Akorede leads Akure Muslim Community visit to victims, Olowo, others
By KEMI KASUMU
The Chief Imam of Akure Kingdom in Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede, on Wednesday, did a follow-up to his Tuesday’s press statement condemning the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state with a sympathy visit to the township’s Catholic brothers and sisters.
The senior Islamic cleric and his entourage visited the victims in the hospitals where they where receiving treatment and offered prayers for their quick recovery, while praying that the innocent souls of the departed have eternal rest.
The Akure Imam, Yayi Akorede, accompanied by Chief Tafsir of Akure, Sheikh Moshood Raji Kewuyemi, the Sariki of Akure, Alhaji AbdulKadir Mustafa, the Arowasi Agba of Akure, Alhaji Idris Yusuf Ilemobola and Imam of Daru Salaam Akure, Alhaji Zakariya Babalola, among others, was received in the affected Church premises by Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Rev Fr Jude Arogundade assisted by Bishop Emeritus Francis Folorunsho Alonge among other officials of the mission.
The Sunday attack left yet to be confirmed number of Catholic faithful killed with many who sustained injury of varied degrees now receiving treatment in hospitals, who were visited during the visit.
On behalf of the Akure Muslim Community, a cash donation of N200,000 was donated to the Catholic Church as a token towards the treatment of the victims in the hospitals.
Sheikh Akorede and his entourage also paid condolence visit on Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas Ondo State Chapter and Chief Imam of Owo Kingdom, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe and then the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III.
Sheikh AbdulHakeem Akorede, who told the state League of Imams and Alfas leader the purpose of his delegation in Owo that is to sympathise with Owo leaders and people over the Catholic Church attack, called “on Almighty Allah to have mercy on us and prevent reoccurrence of such calamity in Owo Land and the whole of Ondo State.”
Receiving the Akure Muslim delegation his Owo office, Sheikh Aladesawe thanked the visitors and prayed that such evils would not befall any member of the state community ever again while calling on government and members of the communities in the state to cooperate with security in fishing out perpetrators of already committed such crimes and providing intelligence that can avert any repeat of such occurrence in the future.
Aladesawe once again thanked the sympathising fellow Muslims for their brotherly concerns and advised all religious houses and centres to take issue of security seriously, especially during services more.
Together, the Islamic clerics offered special prayers for government, people of Ondo State and Nigeria in general and “pleaded to Allah to expose those behind the insecurity problem facing our land.”
The convoy of the Chief Imam proceeded to the Palace of Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, where the delegation was well received with the monarch pointing out clearly to his Muslim guests that the Church attack has nothing in connection with religion even as, from all pointers, neither has it anything to do with ethnicity but pure criminality.
Assisting the Oba to received Imam Akorede and entourage were members of the Olowo-in-Council and subjects of the township known in history to be “renowned for its peaceful nature”.
The DEFENDER reports that Owo is one Nigeria’s township that has produced two notable state governors namely Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, who earlier served as elected Member of Federal Parliament in Lagos before being elected on October 1, 1979 as Executive Governor of Old Ondo State and the sitting Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Other photographs from the visit:
