The pain, the agony, of the Owo massacre reverberated Friday at a church service specially held ahead of the mass burial of worshippers killed a fortnight ago when gunmen attacked the Saint Francis Catholic Church in the town.
The sight of the corpses, their pictures on the order of service which has about 20 women brought tears back to the congregation.
Not even Governor Akeredolu and his wife could hold back their tears.
After the funeral mass is completed at the Mydas Event Centre in Owo, families of the victims will take the remains of their loved ones for burial in the town.
A former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, was among the dignitaries present at the mass.
Some clergymen, including Bishop Jude Arogundade of Ondo Catholic Diocese and Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, were also in attendance.
No fewer than 40 persons were killed in the attack which has received wide condemnation across the country. (Pieced together from stories by New Telegraph and Channels TV)