Ilaje Sultan, a writer and popular social media commentator, has condemned the Nigerian government over its continued failure to bring justice to victims of the Owo church massacre that left more than 50 people dead in June 2022.
In a post on his official X account on Sunday morning, the traditional leader recalled the incident with pain, describing the murder of his friends and their parents as a tragedy that still haunts him.
“They came to Owo, Ondo State, on a Sunday like this. They murdered my friends and their parents. More than 50 people died,” he wrote.
He added, “Guess what? Nobody has been arrested and prosecuted. At this point, I wish I could join the US Army. I have a few scores to settle.”
READ MORE: Three Years After Owo Massacre, DSS Warns of Fresh ISWAP Attacks in Ondo, Kogi
The post, made at 10:09 a.m. Nigerian time on November 2, quickly drew widespread reactions from citizens who shared his frustration over the government’s silence and inaction more than three years after the attack.
The massacre occurred on June 5, 2022, when gunmen and bombers stormed St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during Sunday mass, killing dozens of worshippers and injuring many more.
Despite early assurances by then-governor Rotimi Akeredolu that the perpetrators would be caught, there has been no confirmed conviction or public disclosure of successful prosecution since the tragedy.
The Sultan’s post came less than 48 hours after former US president Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of concern”, accusing its government of enabling what he described as “Christian genocide”.
Observers say the timing of Ogunmusi’s message appears to tap into Trump’s statement, reflecting growing frustration among Nigerians who believe justice has failed the victims of religious violence.
One user, @Kaydorries, replied, “That’s the painful part, no arrests, no prosecutions, everyone just moved and forgot about it all, leaving affected families and loved ones in perpetual anguish.”
Another, @ApexHodde, said, “And some people who call themselves fellow Nigerians are still asking me ‘which Christian communities’? Something as clear as ABC in Nigeria is often converted to look like dy/dx.”
Many users echoed similar sentiments, accusing the government of indifference and complicity in the continued violence targeting Christian communities in parts of the country.
“The govt is complicit,” wrote @Nithsmit. “Any insurgent that last more than 3 months, the govt is involved.”
Analysts say the Sultan’s remarks mirror a growing distrust of Bola Tinubu’s administration among victims of past terror attacks who feel abandoned in their pursuit of justice.
For now, the Owo massacre remains one of Nigeria’s darkest chapters, with families of victims still waiting for accountability that never came.
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