GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, yesterday, disagreed with the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, over the arrest of one of the suspected killers of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Idris Ojo, insisting that the suspect was one of the escapees from Kuje Prison.
The CDS had said two of the masterminds of the deadly terrorist attack were 32-year-old Idris Ojo and Jimoh Ibrahim, 39.
He also said four other persons were arrested at Eja in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, in connection with the June 5 attack on the Catholic Church in Owo and another attack on a Police station at Ada in which a policeman was killed.
But Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said: “There was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“The attention of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State 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 the June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.
“There was a mix-up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“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.
“His brother, Jimoh Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after he escaped 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.”
