By Cross Udo, Abuja and Oludamisi Ojo
The Federal Government yesterday said it has located the footprint of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) for the Sunday attack of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State that led to the death of about 40 persons.

The government also said no arrest has been made on the kidnap of the Methodist Prelate, Samuel Kanu-Uche, and two other priests.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Security Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, flanked by the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, said that the Owo Catholic Church attack was perpetrated by international criminals.

However, Aregbesola said that no arrest has been made, adding that the security agencies had been directed to go after the perpetrators of the act and bring them to justice.

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•Security zeroing on culprits- IGP

He also confirmed that the security was now zeroing in on them, this position was confirmed by the IGP.

He noted that the attack has no ethnic-religious connection, stressing that the group’s activity has nothing to do with religion.

According to Aregbesola, the motive of the terror group is believed to be pitching Nigerians against each other and making it appear as an ethno-religious war.

The minister stated that the council is also concerned about killings in the name of blasphemy and has directed the security agencies to go after perpetrators of both incidents that occurred in Sokoto State and Abuja recently.

He added that enough security arrangement has been made for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election taking place on June 18, 2022.

•No arrest yet on kidnappers of Methodist Prelate- Aregbesola

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On the kidnap of the Methodist Prelate, the Minister said there has been a lead and that the security was still looking for the suspects and how the ransom was paid.

He said there was no ethnic agenda in the attack, urging Nigerians to unite and defeat the terrorists.

He said, “The National Security Council has just risen from its meeting today, which reviewed, very critically, all aspects of the security situation in the country and came up with conclusions, commending the efforts of the military and other security agencies in mitigating the insurgency, particularly in the North-East, where the fundamentalists there have been weakened, degraded and equally in the North-West, where the bandits are equally weakened, and the North-Central, where we’re engaged with pockets of bandits.

“The council is quite concerned about the violent attack in Owo, Ondo State, and has been able to locate the perpetrators of that horrendous attack. From all indications, we are zeroing in on ISWAP, the Islamic State for West Africa.

“It is not an ethnoreligious thing, the animals in ISWAP wanting attention, recognition, are suspected to have launched that attack. We have directed all the agencies concerned to go after them and bring them to justice”, he said.

Speaking further, the Minister stated that the Council is also concerned about killings in the name of blasphemy and has directed the security agencies to go after perpetrators of both incidents that occurred in Sokoto State and Abuja recently.

He added that enough security arrangement has been made for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election taking place on June 18, 2022.

“We are equally concerned about the spate of attacks in the name of blasphemy. The police have been directed to mobilize, identify and pre-empt all those involved in the blasphemy attacks in two areas of the country, namely Sokoto and Abuja, of recent. The assurance is that we are committed to maintaining law and order and providing adequate security for Nigerian citizens.

“Appropriate preparation is put in place for the elections coming up in Ekiti, this month, and Osun, next month, principally by Nigeria Police and supported by other security agencies, and to some extent, the military. That’s the long and short of it.

“The President wants us to assure Nigerians that his administration is committed to providing adequate security and ensuring the maintenance of law and order, so that Nigerians will be able to go about their businesses, particularly farmers, who will want to go to their farms without any fear of attack or molestation Aregbesola said.

•Bandits kill another six persons in Ondo

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No fewer than six persons were reportedly shot dead on Wednesday night at Sabo Area of Ondo town, Ondo.

This attack came 72 hours after some terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, killing about 40 people.

Several other church members were injured in the Owo attack.

It was gathered that the gunmen were on motorcycles when they carried out the latest attack in Ondo town.

Another source said the bandits also robbed some residents of the area of their valuables before they left the scene.

Spokesperson of the state police command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami simply confirmed the incident.