The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has annouced those behind the Owo attacks have been arrested.
Some gunmen had stormed St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing no fewer than 40 worshippers during a Sunday service in June.
The Federal Government, however, said earlier when the incident happened that the Islamic States of West Africa Province terrorists were behind the it.
During a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff confirmed that the Owo attackers had been nabbed.
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Irabor said the suspects would be paraded after an investigation had been concluded into the matter.
He said, “Within the last time we met, we have recorded remarkable achievement. Let me bring it to your notice that within the same period, there have been ignoble actions of men of the underworld that have impinged on our collective well-being, namely the unfortunate train attack, the attack on Kuje correctional center as well as what has been reported in the past the attack on the presidential convoy.
“Also, the Owo incident which was intended to bring man and women of the armed forces to present them in a form and shape that make it to look as if the nation is on a siege. We have arrested those behind the dastardly act in Owo.
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“It was my intention to present them to the public, but because of the investigation still going on, I had to change my mind. I will like to say that in due course, the world will see them and others who are behind other daring attacks in the country.”
The Ondo state Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has also confirmed the arrest.
The Governor’s confirmation comes shortly after the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor made the announcement in Abuja.
Akeredolu who spoke during a courtesy visit to his office by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the state Chairman of the Council, Mr Leke Adegbite, noted that government did not spare a moment in trailing the terrorists since the horrendous attacks.
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He said: “Now that the military has announced it, I can tell you that five of them have been arrested now. They are still on the trail of the rest. The home where they lodged in Owo and the person that accommodated them before the attack, has also been arrested.
“We did not spare a moment. I am happy that the Chief of Defence Staff has announced it. We have known for a while but we needed not to come out with it because more works are still ongoing. I can confirm that this arrest has been made. And they are still on the trail of some of them.”
In a related development, Governor Akeredolu has also called on leaders of the Ebira community in the state to warn their young ones not to copy the bad venture of kidnapping, saying the recent reports from victims of kidnap in the state have established that some Ebira indigenes are now involved in the unwholesome act.
He noted that the Ebiras have lived together with the people of the state peacefully for several decades, adding that they have always been supportive and hardworking.
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“I want to use this medium to urge our brothers to concentrate on their farming trade. It will be unfortunate to know that the Ebiras in our midst are now involved in kidnapping. We are appealing to them not to copy bad thing. The traders selling by the road side should not become informants. We are not fighting them. We have seen their numbers, they supported and voted for us during elections. I will call their leaders and talk to them. Our brothers who were kidnapped on their way to Ikare, talk to them. They were taken to Ebira farmsteads.
“For me, we have lived together for too long for this to happen. I am ready to make any effort to ensure that the conviviality that we have enjoyed continues. But we are begging their leaders to urge them not to copy bad thing. They are in our midst , we are surrounded by them. The issue of security is key and it’s dynamic,” governor Akeredolu noted.
The Governor, who thanked the NUJ in the state for the cooperation extended to his administration, assured them of sustained efforts at developing the state.
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On the issue of Security, Governor Akeredolu disclosed that aside the recent recruitment and training of new Amotekun personnel, 20 hunters and local vigilantes will be trained by the Amotekun corps in each of the eighteen local government areas in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ondo State NUJ Council thanked the governor for the approval of the Weigh-in allowance for journalists and information officers working in the State and Local government services across Ondo state.
