By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday said its troops in collaboration with personnel of Department of State Services (DSS), have apprehended additional two Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), terrorists who were also connected to the attack on the Owo Catholic church at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State.
Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, who made this disclosure in a statement in Abuja.
He added that the lastest arrest which was carried out on 9, August 2022, came barely few hours after the disclosure by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), of the arrest of 4 of the Owo Catholic Church attackers.
He further disclosed that the arrests were made through the collaborative effort by military and DSS personnel.
Major General Akpor identified the two suspects as Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
“It is instructive to note that Abdulhaleem, alongside other high profile ISWAP commanders, had also previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene LGA, Kogi State resulting in casualties.
“It is the avowed commitment of the leadership of the military, Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies to work in synergy to enthrone peace and security all over the country. This is due to the need for collaboration as an essential requirement to successfully deal with the existential asymmetric threats currently bedeviling our dear nation, Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
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Major General Akpor recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his parley with media executives and editors on Tuesday 9 August 2022, informed of the arrest of 4 terrorists among those who carried out the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on 5 June 2022.
“They 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,” he concluded.
