Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday said that terror cells in Okene, Kogi State are responsible for terror attacks in Ondo and other states in Nigeria.
Governor Akeredolu stated this on Wednesday in Channels TV’s program, Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye.
The Governor was responding to questions about the identity of the June 5 Catholic Church Owo attackers referenced in his last statements, whence he had linked the Ebira ethnic group to terror activities.
Akeredolu said that he had cleared the air on the June 5 attack, and made a separate remark on kidnap activities linked to Ebira people, for which he was going to call a meeting with the people in that part of the state.
“But the terror gang in Okene were involved the incidence of June 5. What do we make of that? Are they all Ebiras, that’s for us to find out. We don’t conclude with the names because, we can see that a number of them have two names.
“So, the Department of State Security are still working on this. So we must leave that until they come out as to the proper location of where they come from before we jumped into total conclusion.
“For me, I know that there is a terror cell in Okene and everybody knows that. And they strike across the country. They strike in Kogi, they strike in Ekiti, they come strike in Ondo State. But this terror cell is one that must be confronted and eliminated,” he said.
The Governor further stated that his reference to the Ebira people was based on the long peaceful coexistence with them in Ondo state, and the need to cooperate against criminal elements.
He also described the attack on the Catholic church as an act of terrorism.
“Unfortunately we discovered that the terrorists probably came into town and lodged in one or two houses, one house we know for sure before they carried out their strikes. It’s act of terrorism and no other way to describe it, but with the collusion by one person who live within the community. “
Akeredolu said the Amotekun Corps in Ondo was most effective on the June 5 incidence in the pursuit of the terrorists.
He said officers of the corps were able to retrieve one of the vehicles and simcards used by the terrorists, and handed them over to the DSS.
The Army Chief said Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo and a Police station attack in Kogi State that claimed the life of a police officer.
Speaking at the chief of defence staff parley with editors and media executives in Abuja, he gave his name as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza.