THE Federal Government has said the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) was responsible for the June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which led to the death of about 38 persons.
Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola announced that the terror group was behind the attack while briefing journalists after a meeting of the National Security Council at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
Aregbesola said security channels have identified the suspects as ISWAP terrorists.
He added that investigations and trailing of the terrorists involved in the attack were still ongoing.
No arrest has been made, the minister further explained.
Aregbesola also debunked insinuations that the attacks had ethnic and religious motives.
He disclosed that security agencies, particularly the police, have been directed to apprehend the perpetrators.
“Council is quite concerned about the violent attack in Ondo State, and we have been able to locate the perpetrators. We have zeroed it that ISWAP did it, the animals in ISWAP wanting attention are responsible, we have asked security personnel to go after them and bring them to justice”.
Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba equally disclosed that the ‘imprints’ of the perpetrators of the Owo killings had been identified.
Although no arrests have been made, he said security agencies are zeroing in on the perpetrators.
The meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, came less than a week after the attack in Owo, Ondo State.
Government officials that attended the security council meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Gambari and National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno.
Others include the Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff Awwal Gambo and Chief of Air Staff Isiaka Oladayo Amao,
Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba Usman, Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai Abubakar were also at the meeting.
A reporter with the ICIR
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