The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed details of masterminds of June 5 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.
The DHQ in a statement on Wednesday, August 10, stated that four among the terrorists who carried out the attack were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022.
Recall that Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) General Lucky Irabor had on Tuesday in Abuja, said that five masterminds of the church massacre including one Idris Ojo, had been captured by security operatives.
Following the statement by the CDS, Nigerians questioned how Ojo, who escaped from Kuje prison in July, was able to carry out an attack in Owo in June, a month earlier.
In a swift reaction, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, clarified that Idris Ojo is not one of the suspected masterminds of the Owo church attack, adding that it was a mix-up.
The statement signed by Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said Ojo was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre.
According to the statement, Ojo was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on 7 August.
The arrested Owo church attackers are; Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has confirmed the arrest of 4 of the architects of the terrorists’ attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State on 5 June 2022,” the statement read.
“He made the confirmation during the second CDS’ parley with media executives and editors, which took place at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja on Tuesday 9 August 2022. The parley was organized by the Directorate of Defence Information in collaboration with The Media Today (TMT) International,”
“The CDS said that, through the collaborative efforts of military and DSS personnel, 4 amongst the terrorists who carried out the attack on the Owo Catholic Church were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022”
Credit:lindaikejisblog