Defence chief, Irabor, claims attackers of Owo church have been arrested

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday claimed that terrorists who attacked a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, killing several worshippers have been arrested.

Irabor spoke at a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja.

The gunmen had stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where they killed more than 40 people.

Irabor, however, said the arrested suspects would be paraded after necessary investigation had been concluded.

Read also:‘Military to implement new strategies on insecurity,’ says CDS Irabor

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”, he said.

“Also, the Owo incident which was intended to bring men 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.

“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”, Irabor added.

Irabor, however, named one Idris Omeiza and Jimoh Ibrahim as suspected masterminds of the attack, and that Omeiza, Ibrahim and other terror suspects would be paraded after the conclusion of investigation into their respective cases.

He said, “It was not only the Armed Forces that were involved in the operation. The DSS, Police and Intelligence agencies were part of the efforts to apprehend these criminals that have put us and indeed the nation on our toes.

“On August 7, one Idris Ojo (37) was apprehended at Aiyetoro in Ondo State. He was one of the high-profile Islamic State of West Africa Province members that escaped from Kuje Prison. Alongside with him is Jimoh Ibrahim, who is a 39-year-old criminal, who was also arrested. Idris Ojo wasn’t done with all the criminal activities he had done in the past, he was also planning other criminal activities and perfecting those crimes along with his cronies before his arrest.

“Again, on August 4, the military, in a combined operation with the Department of State Service, arrested four terrorists at Eika in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“Others are Idris Omeiza, otherwise known as Ibn Malik; Momoh Abubakar, Aliyu Itopa and Auwal Onimisi.

“Now, Omeiza is one of the masterminds of the June 5 Catholic Church attack in Owo as well as the attack on the police station in Adavi also in Kogi State that led to the killing of a policeman as well as weapons being carried away.”

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