Just in: Two more ISWAP fighters linked to Owo church attack arrested

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says two additional fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), found to be behind the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state, have been arrested.

Suspected terrorists on June 5 attacked the church, killing over 40 people.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Iraboh, announced on Tuesday that five suspects behind the attack on the church had been arrested.

The DHQ on Thursday in a statement by its Director of Defence Information, Jimmy Akpor, said the two suspected ISWAP fighters were arrested through the collaborative efforts of the military and the DSS.

The statement read in part, “Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his parley with media executives and editors yesterday, 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.

“Barely few hours after the disclosure by the CDS of the arrest of 4 of the Owo Catholic Church attackers, 2 additional ISWAP terrorists, who were also connected to the attack on the church were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State yesterday, 9 August 2022.

“The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by military and DSS personnel. The suspects are 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.”