Nigeria: Men Responsible for the Pentecost Massacre Have Been Captured

The two suspects, Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris, were arrested on August 9 in Omialafara, Omulafa, Ondo State. This arrest followed that of four other people apprehended on August 1 in Eika, Kogi State during a coordinated operation between the army and military intelligence.

“We wanted to present the suspects immediately to the public, but we were unable to do so because some investigations are still ongoing,” said the general, who announced the capture on August 7 in Aiyetorosi, in the state of 'Ondo, of Idris Ojo (37), one of the most prominent members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) who had escaped from Kuje prison.

“Ojo was planning more deadly attacks and perfecting those plans with his cohorts before he was captured,” the army chief of staff said. “In due time, the world will see who is behind the other attacks in the country,” he added.

According to the authorities, the massacre at the Owo church is also the work of ISWAP. Arakunrin Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo state, said a person who had provided housing for the suspects before the attack was also arrested.

For the record, the Pentecost attack on the church in Owo left 40 dead and 80 injured.

ISWAP claimed responsibility for a series of attacks and the assault on the Abuja prison in early July, which led to the escape of more than 400 prisoners, most of whom were later recaptured by the security forces.

The Bishops have long sounded the alarm over the security situation in Nigeria, which, in their judgment, is out of control.