The Islamic State, West African Province was responsible for the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State which left over 25 people dead on Sunday, June 5, 2022, the National Security Council revealed on Thursday.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this to State House correspondents, shortly after the over three-hour council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Speaking in the company of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, Aregbesola said security agencies are closing in on the perpetrators through their traces.
He said the council is gravely concerned about the spate of blasphemy-linked killings and has directed security agents to hunt those behind the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto State and a more recent case in Abuja.
He, however, noted that the police have arrested no one for the attack since Sunday and also debunked notions that the attack carried an ethnic-religious tint.
Aregbesola said the council has made adequate security preparations for the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.
In attendance at the security meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.).
The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao were also in attendance.
Others include the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar.
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