The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has disclosed that the state government was the first to trail the terrorists who attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo Ondo State, on Pentecost Sunday during mass.
Goldennewsng reports that Governor Akeredolu stated that his administration knew for a while about the attackers’ arrest but did not come out because more work was going on at the time.
The Chief Of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday, Goldennewsng reported announced the arrests of the Owo Catholic Church attackers.
The dastardly act was carried out on June 5, while the worshipers were inside the church during Pentecost mass celebration.
According to the priest in charge of the Catholic parish, over 40 worshipers were gunned down by the bandits.
General Irabor in Abuja disclosed that the attackers were terrorist group of Islamic West Africa Province group, ISWAP.
Governor Akeredolu speaking on the CDS statement said, “I am happy to announce that we have confirmed the arrest of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor has also announced it. We have known for a while but we needed not to come out with it because more works are still ongoing.”
Governor Akeredolu further disclosed that the attackers were hosted in a house in the community Owo days before they carried out the attack.
He also stated that the owner of the house has also been arrested, stating more of the attackers are still been trailed.
“Five of the attackers have been arrested, including the owner of the house in Owo where the attackers stayed before the June 5 attack, while the security operatives are still on the trail of some of them,” he said.
He added, “We did not spare a moment in trailing the terrorists since the horrendous attacks on innocent worshippers. We will continue to give the necessary supports to our security agencies towards protecting the lives and property in the State.”
