The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has refuted the claim by the Federal Government that the Islamic State West in African Province (ISWAP) is behind the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
It would be recalled that some terror group on June 5 attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, and killed over 40 worshippers and injured many others.
Reacting to the attack that led to the death of many worshipers on June 9, the Federal Government alleged that the attack had been linked to ISWAP due to the terrorist group’s imprint found on the scene of the attack.
However, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, revealed this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the security agencies had been ordered to go after the perpetrators and bring them to book, adding that the church was not attacked based on ethnic agenda.
Meanwhile, during an interview on a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Fayemi said the claim by the federal government is purely speculative and not substantiated.
The governor stated that there is no shred of evidence that substantially links ISWAP to the heinous attack in Owo.
Fayemi stated that the gunmen have committed a heinous crime and demonstrated the maximum capacity to cause damage to the people of the region.
He, therefore, said South-West governors will do all in their capacity to ensure such a sad incident does not happen in the zone again.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, the statement about ISWAP or Boko Haram or whatever other institutions are responsible for this is purely speculative at this stage.
“I haven’t seen any evidence that concretely puts this in the corner of any of these rogue elements.
“And really at this stage, it doesn’t matter, they have committed a heinous crime and demonstrate the maximum capacity to cause damage to our people, our duty is to ensure that this does not occur again and we go after elements of this nature, whichever organisation they represent.”
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