August 09, (THEWILL) – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday, said the Nigerian armed forces, working alongside the police, DSS and other security agencies, have arrested the masterminds and attackers of the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.
The CDS stated this while speaking at a parley with media executives at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.
Suspected terrorists had on June 5, attacked the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing at least 40 worshippers and injuring several others.
Briefing the Media, the CDS said, “For the purpose of this interaction, I will like to read out their names and as I read out their names, let me say that it is not just the armed forces, but the DSS, the police and other intelligence agencies were parts and parcel of some of the efforts to apprehend these criminals who have put us and indeed the nation on the toes.
“On Aug. 7, Idris Ojo (37) was apprehended at Aiyetorosi in Ondo State. He is one of the high-profile Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) member that escaped from Kuje Prison.
“Alongside him is one Jimoh Ibrahim, a 39-year-old criminal who was also arrested.
“Idris Ojo was not done with all the criminal activities which he undertook in the past, he was also planning other deadly attacks and he was perfecting those plans along with his cronies before he was apprehended.
“On Aug. 4, again, the military in a combined operation with the DSS arrested four terrorists at Eika in Okehi local government of Kogi State.
“These are Idris Abdulmalik 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, in Kogi State, which led to the killing of a policeman as well as weapons being carried away.”
Speaking on the Kaduna train attack, the CDS said that the military was working to rescue the remaining victims as directed by the President.
Speaking on the 2023 general elections and general insecurity across the country, Gen. Irabor assured Nigerians that the general elections will hold as planned.
The CDS declared that the military in collaboration with other sister security agencies would do everything possible to ensure that nothing stops the poll.
Reiterating the commitment of the Armed Forces to protect Nigeria’s democracy, the CDS, said: “the military has made a covenant to protect Nigeria’s democracy and it has not changed its position.”
About the Author
