Nigeria Defence Headquarters (DHQ), says two more Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrorists linked to the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state, have been arrested.
DHQ spokesman Jimmy Akpor in a statement said two more suspected ISWAP fighters linked to the dastardly attack have been apprehended.
Akpor disclosed that the suspects 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,” Akpor said.
“The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by military and DSS personnel. The suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.”
He said Abdulhaleem, alongside other high-profile ISWAP commanders, had also previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene LGA, and Kogi State resulting in casualties.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, announced that some of the gunmen behind the attack on the church have been arrested.
The CDS had said two of the masterminds of the deadly terrorist attack were 32-year-old Idris Ojo and Jimoh Ibrahim, 39.
Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, disagreed with the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, over the arrest of one of the suspected killers of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Idris Ojo, insisting that the suspect was one of the escapees from Kuje Prison.
Akeredolu said Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison escapees, was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.