The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said two additional suspected terrorists linked with the June five Owo attack have been arrested, bringing the numbers of those apprehended in connection with the tragedy to six.
The Chief of Defence Staff , General Lucky Irabor, had during a meeting with media executives and editors on Tuesday August 9 announced the arrest of some suspected terrorists including the mastermind of Owo attack.
In a statement on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said the duo of Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris were arrested at the Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA in Ondo State during a joint operation with the DSS, Police .
The statement was titled , ‘Arrest of two additional suspected terrorists in connection with the attack on Owo Catholic Church on June 5, 2022.’
Some Suspected terrorists had on June 5 stormed the Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo killing over 40 worshippers.
It read, “Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff during his parley with media executives and editors on Tuesday August 9 confirmed the arrest of 4 terrorists among those who carried out the attack on Saint Francis’ Catholic Church, Owo on June 5 this year.
“The 4 Suspects were arrested through a combined operation by military and personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on August 1, 2022.
They are, 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 four of the Owo Catholic Church attackers, two additional ISWAP terrorists, who were also connected to the attack on the church were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose Council Area of Ondo State.
“The arrests were made through the collaborative efforts by military and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS personnel.
The suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
He, however, said that Abdulhaleem, alongside other high profile ISWAP commanders, had previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State , which led to the death of many people.
