General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, has stated that those responsible for the Owo attacks have been apprehended.
Gunmen stormed St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, killing 40 worshippers.
The Federal Government, on the other hand, claimed that the attack was carried out by terrorists from the Islamic States of West Africa Province.
The Chief of Defence Staff confirmed the capture of the Owo attackers during a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja on Tuesday.
Irabor said the suspects would be paraded after an investigation had been concluded into the matter.
He said, “Within the last time we met, we have recorded remarkable achievement. Let me bring it to your notice that within the same period, there have been ignoble actions of men of the underworld that have impinged on our collective well-being, namely the unfortunate train attack, the attack on Kuje correctional center as well as what has been reported in the past the attack on the presidential convoy.
“Also, the Owo incident which was intended to bring man and women of the armed forces to present them in a form and shape that make it to look as if the nation is on a siege. We have arrested those behind the dastardly act in Owo.
“It was my intention to present them to the public, but because of the investigation still going on, I had to change my mind. I will like to say that in due course, the world will see them and others who are behind other daring attacks in the country.”
Earlier, operatives of Amotekun Corps in Ondo State had arrested some suspects in connection with the killings
Briefing journalists in Akure on June 23, the state Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, expressed assurance that all the attackers of the worship center would be apprehended.
Adeleye, however, did not give the actual figure of the suspected terrorists arrested.
“As regards the Owo incident, we have recovered the last vehicle they used for that operation and we made some arrests and we have also recovered some vital things which we are working on,” he said.
“A number of people have been arrested concerning the Owo issue as well as a well number of equipment. On that day, we pursued them to the point that we recovered the vehicle and we are still pursuing them We have told you that until we get to the root, I can assure you that the perpetrators and their sponsors will be brought to book.”