Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday said Idris Ojo is not one of the suspected masterminds of the Owo church attack.
Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor had on Tuesday named Ojo as one of the suspected attackers during a parley with news editors in Abuja.
“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,” the governor gave the clarification in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.
“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.”
Akeredolu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and give necessary support to the security agencies in the State.
The Defence Headquarters also clarified Irabor’s statement on Wednesday.
READ ALSO: Akeredolu confirms arrest of Owo church attackers
The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, in a statement, said the clarification became necessary because of the conflicting feedback on the earlier announcement.
Akpor said that Irabor had confirmed the arrest of four suspects through the collaborative efforts of the military and DSS personnel at Eika, in Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi on August 1.
“Those arrested included Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
“The Defence Chief said, preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church.
“As well as the attack on a Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State on 23 June 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away,” he said.
Akpor said Irabor also mentioned Ojo, 32, who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on August 7.
“Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre on 5th July 2022.
“The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim, 39 years, a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him.
“The CDS further revealed that, the arrest of Idris Ojo was crucial as he, along with others, were already planning terrorists’ attacks against some selected targets, in order to create fear amongst the citizenry aimed at discrediting the government,” he said.
