CDS Confirms Arrest Of Owo Church Attackers …Says We’ve Killed Many Bandits’ Leaders

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said those behind the Owo attacks have been arrested.
Some gunmen had stormed St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing no fewer than 40 worshippers.
The Federal Government, however, said the Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists were behind the attack.
During a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja, yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff confirmed that the Owo attackers had been nabbed.
Irabor said the suspects would be paraded after an investigation had been concluded into the matter.
He said, “Within the last time we met, we have recorded remarkable achievement. Let me bring it to your notice that within the same period, there have been ignoble actions of men of the underworld that have impinged on our collective well-being, namely the unfortunate train attack, the attack on Kuje correctional centre as well as what has been reported in the past the attack on the presidential convoy.
“Also, the Owo incident which was intended to bring man and women of the armed forces to present them in a form and shape that make it to look as if the nation is on a siege. We have arrested those behind the dastardly act in Owo.
“It was my intention to present them to the public, but because of the investigation still going on, I had to change my mind. I will like to say that in due course, the world will see them and others who are behind other daring attacks in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, has said the military has killed many bandits’ leaders amid the recent Abuja-Kaduna train attack in the country.
Irabor stated this, yesterday, during a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja.
Terrorists attacked and kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna-bound train passengers on March 28, 2022.
Speaking on the recent train attack, Irabor said although some victims had been released, the military and other security agencies remained committed to ensuring the safe rescue of the remaining victims in captivity.
He said the military had intensified both air and ground operations to deal with criminals in all parts of the country, adding that several successes had been recorded in recent times.
The CDS said that based on military air operations, the military, on August 6, killed one Alhaji Abdulkareen, a bandits’ leader, along with his fighters in Nigeria’s North-West.
“By the deeds of the surgical air operations that we have conducted, many of the bandits’ leaders have been killed,” Irabo added.
Irabo said the essence of the parley was to solicit understanding and support from the media in the fight against the security challenges bedevilling the nation.
He, however, called for greater cooperation between the military and the media to find solutions to the security challenges and disallow enemies from stoking fears in the minds of the public.
The army chief also urged Nigerians and political leaders to understand the distinction between military operations and politics, adding that the military remained undaunted in ensuring a safe and secure nation.