SW News: The Nigerian security personnel and police arrested five suspects who attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, on Pentecost Sunday, Killing 40 innocent faithful who were participating in Holy Mass. General Leo Isabor, Chief of Defence Staff, disclosed the information about the arrest on Tuesday.
Nigerian authorities said that the terrorist outfit Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is suspected to be behind the June 5 attack. Of late, this offshoot of the Islamic State has been wreaking havoc in the northern and middle-belt regions of the country.

The ISWAP attack on the church, which is located in the comparatively peaceful state of Ondo, shows that the military operations in the north have forced Islamist militants to shift to other states in the south.

The defence chief said that the terrorists were captured during joint operations conducted by the armed forces, the Department of Security Services, and police. The time and place of arrests were not disclosed, reported Reuters.

Governor of Ondo Arakunrin Akeredolu said that the person who had arranged accommodation for the suspects was also arrested.

On June 5, assailants entered St Francis Church and opened fire causing death and bloodshed. As many as 40 faithful lost their lives and 61 were injured. Investigators recovered three live explosives from among the debris in the church. So far, Ondo state does not have a history of jihadist insurgency.