The Nigeria Police has expressed its apologies to the people of Owo and Ondo State at large over the June 5 terror attack that claimed 40 lives at Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owoluwa.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 17 which comprises of Ondo and Ekiti Commands, Yunus Akeera, said since the deadly attack occurred, the police had been working tirelessly to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Speaking on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the palace of Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunye, and to the scene of the church attack, Akeera who resumed the zone on Monday maintained that the police will henceforth engage the community to prevent reoccurrence.
He said “Issues like this have never happened and people are wondering, why Owo? We must say we are sorry for what has happened.
“But as law officers, we are going to put our ears to the ground and we will leave no stone unturned to make sure those who are behind this wicked act will be apprehended and faced the law. This I must assure you.
Akeera who commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the Executive Order signed to compel public and private institutions in the state to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV) on their facilities, said the move will enormously enhance the fight against crime by security agencies.
“The governor’s pronouncement is a welcome development. All over the world, that is the best practice. If every public places have CCTV installed in their environment, it will checkmate a lot of things. It will give adequate capturing of who and who goes in or goes out. It will also ease investigation.
While urging the police to unearth those behind the attack, Oba Ogunoye, lamented that police in Owo lacked operational vehicles as well as adequate personnel.
“One could not fathom the reason why those people could go to that extent. They are not Muslims and they are not Christians. As I often say, they are not human beings and they don’t worth human existence.