FG says ISWAP responsible for attacks in Owo, Ondo State

FG says ISWAP responsible for attacks in Owo, Ondo State

By Tajudeen Disu

The Islamic State of West Africa, (ISWAP) is responsible for the attack on Owo, an ancient town in Ondo State.

Last Sunday, armed men entered Owo where they rained bullets on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the hometown of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.

Nigerian Secrity Chiefs on Thursday met declaring that the attack was carried out by ISWAP a strong indication that organised terrorism is taking strong foothold on Yorubaland.

The Abuja meeting was presided over by President Mohammadu Buhari who has strongly condemned the Owo attack. The Security Chiefs in briefs made available to journalists after the meeting said ISWAP was responsible for the attack.

The Security Council met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

ISWAP has continued to threaten that it would impose a theocratic state on Nigeria, the Chief country in West Africa and the continent’s most popular country.
” The cat has been let out of the bag. This is an indication that Yorubaland and Nigeria should prepare a long haul. Terrorism is finally here'” a retired senior police officer who does not wish to be named told Irohinoodua.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has said that the attacks had no ethnic or religious colouration. But the whole world knows that ISWAP is a group motivated by religious extremism many times with its leadership dominated by some ethnic groups.

Others at the meeting in Abuja were the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) in attendance.

Also in the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya among others