Owo massacre: Police tender apology to monarch
EMERGENCY DIGEST- The new Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 17, Mr Yunus Akeera, has apologised to the Olowo of Owo land, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, and the community over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
No fewer than 40 persons were killed while many were injured by some terrorists who attacked the church.
Speaking on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the monarch, Akeera, who resumed on Monday, said the police would henceforth engage the community in order to prevent recurrence.
The AIG, who also visited the scene of the attack, noted that the police had been working tirelessly to unravel the facts surrounding the dastardly attack.
He said, “Issues like this have never happened and people are wondering, why Owo? We must say we are sorry for what happened.
“But as law officers, we are going to put our ears to the ground and leave no stone unturned to make sure that those behind this wicked act are apprehended and made to face the law. This, we assure you.
Read Also:
2,079 die in 68 mass killings between January 2020 and June 2022 – Report
“We have come to the scene of the crime and from all indications, the place is situated in the heart of town and any rational person will be wondering what could happen and our focus should be how to go about to round up those behind this incident so that they will be prosecuted.
“Furthermore, all the security architecture will be in place here so that such an incident will not repeat itself anymore in other areas in the state.
“The focus is to give robust policing. We are going to engage with the community and we implore them to give us useful information. All hands must be on deck because security is everybody’s business.”
The police boss commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for the Executive Order signed to compel public and private institutions in the state to install Closed Circuit Television in their facilities; stating that the move would enhance the fight against crime by security agencies.
In his remarks, the Owo monarch tasked the police to expose those behind the attack.
He lamented that police in Owo lacked operational vehicles as well as adequate personnel.
