The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) has expressed concern over the delayed arraignment of suspects in the June 5, 2022, massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The attack left dozens dead, many injured, and the community in shock. In a statement signed by its Interim Coordinator, Babatunde Agunbiade, the coalition said that while the recent arraignment offered hope, the two-year wait before the suspects were brought to court could undermine public trust in the justice system.
“While this development offers a glimmer of hope for justice, NCAMKI is deeply concerned about the inordinately long period of investigation spanning over two years before these suspects were brought before the court. In a country where impunity too often thrives, such delays risk eroding public confidence in the justice system, retraumatising survivors, and weakening deterrence against future atrocities,” the statement read.
The group urged prosecuting authorities to ensure the trials are “transparent, diligent, and free from political interference,” warning that “any gaps in evidence, weak charges, or procedural errors would amount to another injustice committed in the courtroom instead of the street.”
It lamented the human cost of the attack, noting that many families remain devastated, with survivors still battling trauma, disabilities, and economic hardship. It added that some victims have yet to receive adequate medical care, psychosocial support, or compensation.
NCAMKI reaffirmed its commitment to intensify advocacy for reforms in policing, intelligence gathering, and early-warning systems; monitor the Owo trials and other mass killing cases to hold the justice system accountable; and mobilise resources in partnership with faith groups, civil society, and the legal community to support survivors and families of victims.
It called on survivors and affected families to connect with the group as it builds a victims’ support network, pledging to coordinate legal support, counselling, and welfare initiatives in the coming weeks.
“Justice delayed for Owo must not become justice denied, the blood of the innocent cries out for truth, accountability, and lasting peace,” Agunbiade added.
