Barely 24 hours after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, told Editors and Media Executives of the arrest of four suspects who were part of the Owo church attack on 5 June 2022, the Defence Headquarters has said two more suspects have been arrested.
Recall that General Irabor, during the media parley on Tuesday 9 August 2022, said the four suspects were arrested through a combined operation by military and DSS personnel at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said two more suspects have been arrested.
Gen Akpor said the two suspects were arrested at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State on Tuesday 9th August, 2022.
He named those that were earlier arrested as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa, and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
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He said, “Barely few hours after the disclosure by the CDS of the arrest of 4 of the Owo Catholic Church attackers, 2 additional ISWAP terrorists, who were also connected to the attack on the church were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State yesterday (Tuesday), 9 August 2022.
“The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by military and DSS personnel. The suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.”
According to him, one of the suspects, Abdulhaleem has been terrorising Okene in Kogi State.
“It is instructive to note that Abdulhaleem, alongside other high profile ISWAP commanders, had also previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene LGA, Kogi State resulting in casualties,” Gen Akpor noted.
He further restated the collaborative commitment of relevant security agencies to tackle terrorists and criminals to restore lasting peace to the country.
“It is the avowed commitment of the leadership of the military, Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies to work in synergy to enthrone peace and security all over the country.
“This is due to the need for collaboration as an essential requirement to successfully deal with the existential asymmetric threats currently bedeviling our dear nation, country,” he added.
