Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on Tuesday, confirmed the the claims by Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, that the military, in collaboration other security agencies, had arrested suspected terrorists behind the June 5, 2022 attacks on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
He made this confirmation just as he warned the Ebira community in the state against taking kidnapping as stock as a stock in trade.
The Governor, who confirmed the arrest shortly after the Defence chief made the announcement in Abuja, disclosed that the owner of the house who harboured the attackers before they carried out the dastard act had also been arrested.
He noted that no moment was spared in trailing the terrorists since the horrendous attacks on innocent worshipers at the St Francis Church, Owaluwa, Owo.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to his office by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the Chairman of the Council, Prince Leke Adegbite, Akeredolu said the state government will continue to prioritize the safety of lives and property of the people of the state.
He said: “Now that the military has announced it, I can tell you that five of them have been arrested now. They are still on the trail of the rest. The home where they lodged in Owo and the person who lodged them before the attack, has also been arrested.
“We did not spare a moment. I am happy that the Chief of Defense Staff has announced it. We have known for a while but we needed not to come out with it because more works are still ongoing. I can confirm that this arrest has been made and they are still on the trail of some of them.”
Akeredolu however, called on leaders of the Ebira community in the state to warn their young ones against taking to kidnapping as a venture in the state, saying recent reports had established some Ebira indigenes responsible for the kidnapping of some people in the state.
He said that the Ebiras have lived together with the people of the state peacefully for several decades and have always been supportive and hardworking but frowned over the recent development.
“I want to use this medium to urge our brothers to concentrate on their farming trade. It will be unfortunate to know that the Ebiras in our midst are now involved in the kidnapping of innocent people.
“We are appealing to them not to copy bad things. The traders selling by the roadside should not become informants. We are not fighting them.
“We have seen their numbers, they supported and voted for us during elections. I will call their leaders and talk to them. Our brothers who were kidnapped on their way to Ikare, talk to them. They were taken to Ebira farmsteads.
“For me, we have lived together for too long for this to happen. I am ready to make any effort to ensure that the conviviality that we have enjoyed continues.
“But we are begging their leaders to urge them not to copy bad things. They are in our midst, we are surrounded by them. The issue of security is key and it’s dynamic,” Akeredolu noted.
The Governor, who thanked the NUJ in the state for the cooperation extended to his administration, assured them of sustained efforts at developing the state.
On the issue of Security, Governor Akeredolu disclosed that aside from the recent recruitment of training of new Amotekun personnel, 20 hunters and local vigilantes will be trained by the Amotekun corps in each of the eighteen local government areas in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ, Ondo State Council thanked the Governor for his support for the management of OSRC and Owena Press PLC, adding that the upgrades of facilities in the two state-owned media outfits are commendable.
He equally appreciated the Governor for the approval of the Weigh-in allowance for journalists and information officers working in the State and Local government service.
