Owo Killings: Declare State of Emergency on Forest Reserves, House Tells FG

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday urged the federal government to declare state of emergency in the various forest reserves in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State in order to comb and fish out criminals perpetrating crimes.

The House condemned in strong terms, the recent killings of worshippers in a catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State by gunmen.

It mandated the Police authorities not to stop at just fishing out the perpetrators, but to also prosecute them so that at the end justice may be served.
The lawmakers said it was high time they discussed the issue of state police in order to include it in the constitution.

They directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to alleviate the suffering of family members of those that lost their lives and were injured by supplying them with essential relief materials.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Adelegbe Oluwatimehin.

Moving the motion, Oluwatimehin recalled that on Sunday, 5th day of June, 2022, at about 12:00 noon while the holy mass was going on, there was a deadly attack carried out on Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church located at Owa-luwa Street, about 200 meters away from the palace of the traditional ruler of Owo, Olowo of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State by gunmen.

He also recalled that a similar attack was carried out on Molege Community within Ose Local Government Area of the state at midnight of 6th January, 2022 where farmlands and houses were set ablaze and 3 Persons were killed.
He noted that the dastardly act was reportedly carried out on the innocent congregation with the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) after which the defenceless people were being shot indiscriminately.

He expressed sadness that the attack left behind over 40 persons dead in their own pool of blood and many more injured and presently on lifeline at various hospitals and homes.

The lawmaker said, “Further Recall that on Sunday, 23rd day of January, 2022, in the dead of the night, there was a deadly attack carried out on Okeluse Community of Ose Local Government Area of the State also by gunmen suspected to be the same Fulani herdsmen razing down farmlands, houses and left 3 persons dead. Further recall that about November, 2021, a group of herdsmen killed the Olufon of Ifon in Ose Local Government, Oba Israel Adewusi, of blessed memory.”