Owo church attack: Flush out criminals among you, Gov Akeredolu tells Ebira people living in Ondo

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged Ebiras living in the state to flush out criminals among them to ensure mutual coexistence with their neighbours and retain their integrity.

The Governor urged Ebira people whose tribes men were fingered in the massacre of worshippers that took place in St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State to join hands with the government in ridding the state of crime.

Governor Akeredolu, who stressed that the Ebira people have lived together with the indigenes of the state for too long, charged them not to deviate from the farming trade.

The Governor spoke on Saturday at a meeting with the leaders of the Ebira Community in the state at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure.

They were led by the Odeyani Anabira, Zubair Dan Musa and Alhaji Chief Abdulazeez Majeobaje Akure, State Chairman of Egbira.

The Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 17, Mr Yusuf  Mohammed Akeera; Heads of Security Agencies; members of the State Executive Council; and Chairmen of the six Local Government Councils in the Northern Senatorial districts of the state were in attendance.

Addressing reporters shortly after the closed-door meeting, Governor Akeredolu informed that the meeting was summoned in the light of the recent development of the June 5 attack in Owo and other kidnapping cases in the state.

He disclosed that the leaders of the Ebira Community have been urged to rid themselves of criminals and deal with the situation in the best way, to protect their name and integrity in the state.

“We summoned this meeting with our brothers. They are not new here but because of the recent developments that have to do with the Owo massacre and kidnappings, we have to call ourselves.

“I can assure you all that we have had a very frank discussion with ourselves and the leader of the Ebiras in Ondo State spoke on behalf of Ebiras and a few other persons

“It is clear that the message from us to them is well understood and we have assurance from the Ebiras who are living in Ondo State that they would corporate with the security agencies and that the incident in Owo was something that they felt very bad about.’’

“I also have received a letter from Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, that is the leader of Ebira in the world, commiserating again and expressing his embarrassment on what happened.’’