Police PRO said no one has been arrested in connection with the attack in Owo, and the king told them he is not aware of such an arrest
By Mosope Micheals
The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, has poured cold water on the innuendos that the assailants who attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on Sunday, June 5, have been apprehended.
A social media report on Thursday, June 9, said the suspected terrorists were arrested by a joint team of men of the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, and other security agencies as well as the local hunters.
It was also reported that the attackers who killed no fewer than 35 people and injured many were taken to the palace of Olowo by the security agents.
The residents of the town later trooped to the palace of the Oba to catch the glimpse of the suspects and demand justice when they heard the news.
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However, the paramount ruler of Owo kingdom debunked the rumor saying no suspect was arrested and taken to the palace.
According to PUNCH, the first class monarch told the people that besieged his palace, in Owo dialect, that though some people were arrested by the security agents, they are yet to be identified as those who attacked the church.
He said, “They said some people were arrested in the bush by the security but said they were not sure that the suspects were the ones that carried out the attack.”
Another source explained that some criminals were arrested by the police in the bush but the people who saw the suspects in the police van thought they were the attackers.
He further said they also thought the security agents took them to the king, hence, their decision to troop to the palace.
“The report was not true; people have been trooping to the palace to see them but Olowo has addressed them that no suspect was brought to the palace,” he explained.
The state Police command through its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, also refuted the claim, saying the report was untrue and was a social media creation.
According to her, nobody has been arrested in connection with the attack in Owo, and the Olowo told them he is not aware of such an arrest.
She said, “There is nothing like that. We have called the police divisions there, they said there was nothing like that. We have called the Kabiyesi, Olowo of Owo, he said he was not aware of any arrest. So, it is the handiwork of some social media users but it is just rumour.”
