Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has explained why Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, mistakenly listed a Kuje prison escapee among arrested Owo Catholic Church attackers.
Irabo reportedly named one Idris Ojo among those arrested in connection with the attack on St Frnacis Catholic Church in Owo.
Ojo is not among the Owo attackers, he is instead, among those who escaped from Kuje Prison when the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded the facility one month after the Owo attack.
Reacting to the mix-up, Akeredolu, in a statement by Richard Olatunde, his spokesman, clarified that the arrest of the escapee coincided with that of the church attackers, hence the confusion.
The statement read, “The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies.
“Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.
“The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.
“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.
“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.”
The governor asked residents to remain vigilant and give necessary supports to the security agencies in Ondo State.