The Military High Command on Thursday, August 11, 2022, disclosed that two additional ISWAP terrorists who participated in the gruesome massacre of over 40 worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo on June 5, 2022, have been arrested.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor who made this known in a statement named the suspects as Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
Gen. Akpor said they were arrested at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State on Tuesday, 9 August 2022 adding that the arrests were made through the joint efforts of the military and DSS.
The statement reads, “Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his parley with media executives and editors on 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.”
