By KEMI KASUMU
Attempt by some Nigerians, trying to overlook the commendable achievements of arresting people behind the June 5 Owo Church terrorist attacks but rather undermine the gallantry of the military based on a slight mix-up noticed in the list of five suspected terrorists announced, has been laid off by Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), clearing the air on it.
The DEFENDER reported Tuesday announcement by Defence Headquarters of arrest of attackers of the St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa,l Street, Owo, in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
The governor had confirmed arrest of the terrorists as earlier announced by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, while then warning the Ebira in Ondo State against taking kidnapping as trade.
The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde in a statement on Wednesday, said Idris Ojo was truly a Kuje prison escapee rearrested in his brother’s home in Akure where he went to hide after his July 5 escape but not as one of the Owo Church attackers.
The statement said in full, “The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies.
“Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.
“The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure,” the CPS said.
He quoted Akeredolu as saying, “The announcement of the arrest of Idris Ojo as one of the perpetrators of the June 5 attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo was a mix up from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure. His brother, Jimoh Rasheed Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after his escape from Kuje prison.
“He was thereafter moved and kept in the custody of the security operatives at the same time the attackers of Owo Catholic Church were arrested and brought into custody. Hence, the mix up,” the Governor said.
Governor Akeredolu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and give necessary supports to the security agencies in the State.
In the meantime, words have gone to all within and outside the state that made ethnic and religious controversies from the sad development on why they should never rush to apportion blames.
It will be recalled that Christian Association of Nigeria and Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere joined by some vernacular print media and social media influencers, had hastily blamed the attack on Fulani people therefore endangering the lives and businesses of peaceful Hausa-Fulani people living in the state.
But on Tuesday, announcement by the Defence chief proved them wrong but none of them including Prof. Wole Soyinka has come out apologise for hate-based dangerous lies that sought to profile the Owo Church criminal attackers along Fulani race and religion.
The arrested terrorists were listed and none of them was a Fulani man. They are, 1) Momoh Ojo Abubakar, 2) Aliyu Yusuf Itokpa, 3) Auwal Ishaq Onimisi, 4) Idris Ojo and 5) Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (One of the masterminds of the attacks).
“Sadly, most of them are from Ebira, Kogi State. Can we now apologise for blaming it on Fulani Herdsmen?” A comment stumbled over by The DEFENDER Wednesday expressed dismay.
It warned that, “Profiling of criminals is wrong. Address the crime not the tribe.”
List of Kuje prison escapees below:
