By Banji Ayoola
Kuje prison escapee, Idris Ojo, was not among the criminals who unleashed terror on Owo on June 5 during which at least 40 worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church were killed, Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has clarified.
His clarification, in a statement titled “Akeredolu Clears Air On Arrest Of Kuje Prison Escapee, Idris Ojo,” by his Chief Press Secretary, Olabode Olatunde, contradicts an announcement earlier by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen Lucky Irabor.
According to the statement: “The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies.
“Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.
“The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris 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, General Lucky Irabor.
“Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure. His 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.”
“Governor Akeredolu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and give necessary supports to the security agencies in the State.”
In a story titled “We Have Arrested Owo Church Attackers, Says CDS,” the CDS reportedly announced that the masterminds of the June 5 massacre in Owo, Ondo State have been captured by security operatives.
Gen Irabor, at a parley with media executives at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the terrorists were captured at different locations across the country.
He said that the suspects, majority of whom were arrested in various communities in Kogi, would be paraded before the public in due course.
“We had wanted to present the suspects to the public immediately but couldn’t because certain investigations are still being carried out,” he said.
He gave his assurance that in due course, the suspects and others who had been involved in some daring attacks in the past few months would be presented to the public.
“Starting with the Owo church attack, it is my pleasure to let you know that we have arrested those behind that dastardly act.”
In the words of the CDS: “On Aug. 7, one Idris Ojo (37) was apprehended at Aiyetorosi in Ondo State. He was one of the high-profile Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) members that escaped from Kuje Prison.
“He was arrested along with one Jimoh Ibrahim, a 39-year-old criminal.
“Ojo was not done with all the criminal activities which he undertook in the past, he was also planning other deadly attacks and he was perfecting those plans along with his cronies before he was captured,” he said.
“Again, on Aug. 4, the military in a combined operation with the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested four terrorists at Eika in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“Others are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, otherwise known as Ibn Malik; Momoh Abubakar, Aliyu Itopa and Auwal Onimisi.
“Now, Omeiza is one of the masterminds of the June 5 Catholic Church attack in Owo as well as the attack on the police station in Adavi also in Kogi State that led to the killing of a policeman as well as weapons being carried away.”
The CDS said the essence of the parley was to solicit understanding and support from the media in the fight against the security challenges bedeviling the nation.
He, however, called for greater cooperation between the military and the media with a view to finding solution to the security challenges and disallow enemies from stoking fears in the minds of the public.
