THE Defence Headquarters on Thursday said two additional suspected terrorists linked with the Owo attack have been arrested.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, had during a meeting with media executives and editors on Tuesday announced the arrest of some suspected terrorists, including the mastermind of the Owo attack.
The PUNCH reports that armed men stormed the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on June 5, 2022 and killed no fewer than 40 worshippers.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, in a statement titled, “Arrest of two additional suspected terrorists in connection with the attack on Owo Catholic Church on June 5, 2022.”
It read in part, “Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff during his parley with media executives and editors on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, informed of the arrest of four terrorists among those who carried out the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on June 5, 2022.
“They were arrested through a combined operation by military and DSS personnel at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on August 1, 2022. Those arrested include Idris Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Abubakar, Aliyu Itopa and Auwal Onimisi.
“Two additional Islamic States West African Province terrorists, who are also connected to the attack on the church, were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State on August 9, 2022.
“The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by the military and DSS personnel. The suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.”
