CAN Northern Leaders Storm Owo, Share Tears and Hope with Survivors of St. Francis Church Tragedy & Gbalegi Communal Victims
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, December 22, 2025, paid a solidarity visit to St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, to mourn with victims and survivors of the June 5, 2022 attack and to distribute relief materials in the spirit of the Christmas season.
Speaking with journalists during the visit, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and FCT, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, said the delegation was in Owo to fulfill the biblical injunction that urges believers to “mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.” He described the church as sacred ground, recalling the tragic incident in which gunmen attacked worshippers, leaving many dead and others permanently injured. According to him, the visit was a demonstration of love, fellowship, and shared pain, especially for the aged men and women who continue to live with the scars of the attack.
Rev. Hayab noted that the visit was made possible through the support of Barnabas Aid UK, which has consistently extended humanitarian assistance to persecuted Christians across four Northern States and one Southern State. He emphasized that the right to life and worship of all Nigerians remains a priority, stressing that unity among Christians is essential for national peace and development. He added that security arrangements around churches in the North have been strengthened, with wisdom and caution applied to ensure peaceful coexistence.
Addressing beneficiaries of the relief materials, Rev. Hayab said the delegation came to identify with those affected by the Owo tragedy, noting that similar experiences are common in Northern Nigeria. He encouraged the victims to celebrate Christmas with joy, reminding them that Christ came to bring hope to a troubled world. He assured them that justice would ultimately prevail, stating that those responsible for the pain and suffering would face the consequences of their actions.
Items distributed during the event included half bags of rice and three tubers of yam for beneficiaries, while additional supplies such as sugar, garri, beans, salt, seasoning cubes, palm oil, and groundnut oil are expected to arrive later. Members of Rev. Hayab’s entourage included Barrister Cacak, Legal Adviser, and Austin, Media Aide, among others. Rev. Hayab also observed that Christian unity remains key to ending persistent suffering across the nation.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ondo State, Rev. Fr. Anselm Olorunfemi Ologunwa, in his welcome address at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, during the visit of the CAN Chairman of the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, and members of his cabinet said the visit, formed part of activities to identify with victims of violence and promote unity among Christians and people of different faiths across Nigeria.
In his address, Rev. Fr. Ologunwa described the visit as a powerful symbol of solidarity, noting that Owo remains a painful reminder of the 2022 attack on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church. He said the presence of the northere,n CAN leadership demonstrated that the pain of one part of the country is shared by the entire body of Christ. According to him, the visit sent a strong message that Christians across regions stand together against hatred, division, and religious extremism.
The Ondo CAN chairman expressed gratitude to Rev. Hayab and his delegation for their show of love and unity, stressing that Nigeria is currently grappling with multiple security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and communal conflicts. He said these crises have resulted in loss of lives, displacement of communities, and economic hardship, making collective advocacy for peace and justice imperative.
Rev. Fr. Ologunwa also commended the delegation for the relief materials brought for victims of the Owo church attack and those affected by the recent communal clash in Gbalegi, Idanre. He acknowledged the support of Barnabas’ Aid UK and other partners, noting that the assistance would help restore dignity to the victims and reinforce ongoing efforts at healing and reconciliation within affected communities.
He concluded by describing the visit as a turning point and a call for renewed national unity, interfaith cooperation, and sustained advocacy for improved security in Nigeria. The CAN chairman prayed for healing for grieving families, wisdom for national leaders, and lasting peace across the country, expressing hope that Nigeria would emerge stronger through unity and shared responsibility.
The delegation also visited some survivors in their homes. One of them, Mrs. Olayinka Rasheedat Dapo, who has been bedridden since the attack, told journalists that she has lived in constant pain for over three years.
She said doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, advised overseas plastic surgery to help her regain mobility, but financial constraints have stalled the process.
Another survivor, Mrs. Attah Olayemi Margaret, a nurse with the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, said she has been confined to a wheelchair since the incident and appealed to the government for assistance with proper mobility aids.
Other beneficiaries, including Mrs. Adedokun Titilayo and several wheelchair-bound survivors, expressed gratitude to CAN, Barnabas Aid UK, and all donors for remembering them during the Christmas and New Year season. They said the gesture would go a long way in easing their hardship and restoring hope as they continue their journey of healing.
Relief and gratitude filled the air at Gbalegi community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday 23rd of December 2025 as victims of last year’s communal clash, alongside aged men and women and persons living with disabilities also received their portions of the food items.
The beneficiaries were presented with bags of rice and tubers of yam as part of efforts to ease their hardship during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
While addressing the gathering, the Ondo State Chairman of CAN explained that the intervention was driven by compassion and a commitment to stand with suffering communities by the leadership of CAN in Northern Nigeria. He revealed that the association had undertaken extensive efforts to locate Gbalegi in order to reach those affected by the crisis, stressing that the gesture was meant to restore hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging to the people.
Responding on behalf of the community, the Baale and Central Chairman of Gbalegi, Mr. Agboola Rotimi, expressed deep appreciation for the visit and the support. He described the intervention as timely and reassuring, noting that it would go a long way in providing succour to the people and enabling them to celebrate the festive season with renewed hope and joy.