By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
Barely few hours after the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, disclosed the arrest of 4 suspects in connection to the Owo Catholic Church attacks, 2 additional ISWAP terrorists, were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State yesterday, 9 August 2022.
The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by the military and DSS personnel and the suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
A statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, notes that Abdulhaleem, alongside other high profile ISWAP commanders, had previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene LGA, Kogi State resulting in casualties.
Recall that the during his parley with media executives and editors on Tuesday 9 August 2022, the CDS had informed of the arrest of 4 terrorists among those who carried out the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on 5 June 2022.
He said they were arrested through a combined operation by the 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.
According to the statement, 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 as collaboration as an essential requirement to successfully dealing with the existential asymmetric threats currently bedeviling the country.
