The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has confirmed that the criminals who carried out the deadly attack on a Catholic Church in Owo were arrested in Kogi state.
The Army Chief said Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo and a Police station attack in Kogi State that claimed the life of a police officer.
Speaking at the chief of defence staff parley with editors and media executives in Abuja, he gave his name as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza.
“Omeiza is one of the masterminds of the 5th June attack of the Catholic Church in Owo as well as the attack on a police station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State that led to the killing of a policeman as well as weapons carted away,” he disclosed.
He was arrested on the 1st of August, 2022 at Eika Okehi Kogi State during an operation with other branches of security.
Also arrested on the 7th of August at Aiyetoro C in Ondo State is Idris Ojo, age 32, who the CDS describe as “one of the high profile ISWAP terrorist that escaped from Kuje.”
“Idris Ojo wasn’t done with his previous activities but was planning other deadly attacks along with his cronies before his arrest,” General Irabor said.
Other terrorists arrested he said, are Momoh Ojo Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa, and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has also confirmed the arrest while receiving the chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State, Prince Leke Adegbite, and his executive members.
The governor also disclosed that the person who allegedly housed the suspected terrorists before carrying out that the attack had been arrested.
He said , ”Now that the military has announced it, I can tell you that five of them have been arrested now. They are still on the trail of the rest. The home where they lodged in Owo and the person who lodged them before the attack, have also been arrested.
“We did not spare a moment. I am happy that the Chief of Defence Staff has announced it.
“We have known for a while but we needed not to come out with it because more works are still ongoing. I can confirm that this arrest has been made. And they are still on the trail of some of them.”
