Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has cleared the air on the confusion trailing the arrest of Idris Ojo, one of the attackers of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo arrested by the security agencies.
In a statement made available to journalists in Akure, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Richard Olatunde, the governor said there was a mix-up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
Akeredolu said that Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison escapees, was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.
“The announcement of the arrest of Idris Ojo as one of the perpetrators of the June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, was a mix-up from the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
“Ojo’s brother, Jimoh Rasheed Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after his escape from Kuje Prison.
“He was thereafter moved and kept in the custody of the security operatives at the same time the attackers of Owo Catholic Church were arrested and brought into custody. Hence, the mix-up,” the governor said.
He, therefore, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and give necessary support to security agencies in the state.
Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere and Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association, YYSA, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, lauded the Federal Government over the arrest of the attackers of the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The groups also urged the Federal Government to be more decisive in tackling security challenges in the country.
National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Jare Ajayi, described the arrest of some of the masterminds as a welcome development.
On his part, National President, YYSA, Ọlálékan Hammed, in a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, said the arrest of the perpetrators of Owo attack was cheering news.
Hammed said it was obvious that crime has no tribe and no matter where evil-doers come from, they must not go unpunished.
