The gunmen who stormed St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State on June 5 and killed several worshippers have been arrested.
The news of their arrest was revealed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, during a meeting with journalists on Tuesday.
According to Irabor, the suspects were apprehended during joint operations which involved the Police, the Department of Security Services (DSS), and the Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has confirmed the arrest of the suspects.
During a courtesy visit to Richard Olatunde, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor by the the executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Olatunde said that Akeredolu is happy with the arrest of the suspects.
NUJ was led by the Chairman of the Council, Prince Leke Adegbite.
Olatunde quoted the governor as saying, “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 that accommodated them before the attack, has 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.”
Furthermore, Akeredolu urged the leaders of the Ebira community in the state to advice their youths to eschew from evil acts including kidnapping.
He hinted that current reports from victims of kidnap in the state revealed that their kidnappers were indigenes of Ebira. Besides, the Ebiras are peaceful and hardworking people who have been supportive in the development of the state. Hence, they should refrain from such acts.
He continued, “I want to use this medium to urge our brothers to concentrate on their farming trade. It will be unfortunate to know that the Ebiras in our midst are now involved in kidnapping.
“We are appealing to them not to copy bad things. The traders selling by the roadside should not become informants. We are not fighting them."
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