Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has once more denied the Federal Government’s assertion that the attack on the St. Francis Catholic church in Owo was carried out by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Akeredolu claimed that the security authorities’ assertion that ISWAP was responsible for the horrible attack is unsupported by any proof.
The Governor maintained that if the terrorist organization had carried out the attack, it would have done so in a Channels TV interview on Monday night.
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According to Anaedoonline.ng, unidentified gunmen broke into the Catholic church on Sunday, June 5, killing at least 40 worshippers and injuring many more.
A few days after the attack, the federal government claimed that ISWAP was behind it through Minister of the Interior Rauf Aregbesola.
However, Akeredolu has denied the assertion and requested that the government carry out a thorough inquiry before making any statements.
Speaking on the assault on Monday, Akeredolu claimed that the security services came to the swift conclusion that ISWAP was responsible for it.
The attack, according to the governor, was carried out by bandits, ISWAP, and Fulani herdsmen.
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He said: “The security agents were to quick to jump to that conclusion that it was done by ISWAP. But whatever it is, we stand by the position that it is a triology that is operating in our forests and causing havoc.
“You have Fulani herdsmen ride in front, followed by bandits, and again ISWAP. So, the three of them work together and work separately.
“In Ondo state, we have faced terrorism from the three — whether it’s bandits, Fulani herdsmen or ISWAP — they work together. I don’t know how you want to separate them except you have concrete evidence.
“Our own contention is that ISWAP, most times, takes responsibilty for their actions. They take pride in these heinous crimes. So, if ISWAP had done this, they would have come out to own up.
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“But some of us have our fears that it isn’t ISWAP and we do not agree with that position. The security agents were too quick to jump at ISWAP.
“We know it’s a trilogy that is running circles round us here on security matters. We just have to work at all of them together.”
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