OWO CHURCH ATTACK: The Nigerian army has announced the arrest of more terrorists involved in the Owo Catholic terrorist attack in Ondo State, but has till date remained silent on the roles the Amotekun regional security outfit has played in the investigations and arrests, even after two official statements from the Army regarding the arrests.

Basic Facts

• The Army has announced the arrest of two more attackers of the St Francis Catholic in Owo, Ondo State.
• This is following the earlier announcement two days earlier of the first arrest of 5 attackers involved in the attack according the Chief of Defense Staff.
• The first announcement of 5 attackers was later clarified by the Governor of Ondo State as 4 and not 5.

What We Know

The Nigerian Army has through a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Jimmy Akpor, made on Thursday, said the Army has arrested more attackers of the Catholic church, which in total comes to 6 arrests at time of reporting.

The recent arrest according to the statement was carried out at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State on the 9^th of August.

The progress of the investigation brings some form of relief to the country, and especially the Christian community in Osun State, the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has said that those behind the Owo Catholic Church attack that claimed multiple lives have been arrested.

The Chief of Defence Staff in a media parley in Abuja last Tuesday, told newsmen that 5 perpetrators of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo shooting has been arrested.

In a live TV interview monitored by Clariform reporter, the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, clarified that only 4 of the attackers were arrested, as the 5^th person arrested was not part of the attack, but one of the ISWAP terrorists that escaped from Kuje prison facility.

The governor also spoke glowingly of the collaboration between the Amotekun, the DSS and the Army that is now leading to the success being recorded in the investigation.

However, Gen. Lucky Irabor, the CDS who announced the arrest did not openly give any credit or even attribute any relevance to the Amotekun security outfit. He however noted that a lot has happened since the last meeting with the media editors and executives.

Notable Quotes

Speaking during the media briefing on Tuesday, the CDS 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 center 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.”

Quote From New Arrests

Also, while announcing the additional arrest of two more of the attackers, the Director of Defence Information, Jimmy Akpor, on Thursday said as follows:

“Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his parley with media executives and editors yesterday, Tuesday 9 August 2022, informed of the arrest of 4 terrorists among those who carried out the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on 5 June 2022.

They were arrested through a combined operation by military and DSS personnel at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022. Those arrested include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.

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, 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. 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.

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, Nigeria.”

Catch-up

Clariform recalls that on June 5 this year, St. Francis Catholic Church Owo was attacked during a Sunday Service. The attack left at least 40 persons dead, while many more were injured.

The residents of Owo and local vigilantes believed that the attack would have been masterminded by herdsmen, bandits and ethnic militias who had for months and years inhabited their forest from where they carry out nefarious activities.

However, the federal Government, accused the Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists as been behind the attack.

The government had characteristically promised to ensure the perpetrators didn’t go unpunished.

However, rather than abate, the country has witnessed more attacks after June 5^th Owo attack. Some of these attacks were reported by Clariform news desk with the hashtag – “insecurity”.

Takeaway

No doubt this arrest is a welcome development, and might bring some confidence and reassurance to citizens who are already losing hope over the security challenges in the country.

Nonetheless, as reassuring as this announced arrest maybe, a successful prosecution and conviction of this workers of evil will be the only soothing balm on the injury for those bereaved as a result of the Owo Catholic Church attack.

Anything short of carrying  out investigation to a logical conclusion to unearth and convict them may not deter other criminal elements.

Moreover, anything short of the above may not be more than a cold comfort, thus making this arrest not only incomplete in the pursuit of justice but also a wet blanket that rather than take the cold away, makes the user even more cold.

It is also important to officially reorganize the role the Amotekun Regional security has played in the success of the investigations. Remaining silent on it is only an attempt to run away from the reality of the need for state police or further empowerment of such security outfits in the regions and the states.