The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed claims of terrorists attack in the state.
Speaking during a live media chat, he asserted that the state has not recorded an attack by terrorists since the invasion of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo in June 2022.
“Terrorist operation has not happened after the Owo massacre. We’ve not experienced any terrorist attack. I said that we have isolated cases of kidnapping for ransom; it’s happening, but we have to engage.
“The security agencies have to engage to be able to ensure that those who are kidnapped are released, the victims are released, and then they put a trail on those who are perpetrating that act,” he said.
When asked about the reported killings by suspected bandits in some parts of the state recently, including in the Agamo community, the governor said that, “Those cases you mentioned, as I said, are isolated cases. These are not bandit attacks as it were, because when a bandit comes in, they destroy, they kill for no cause.
“They don’t take ransom. They don’t do anything. They just come in and just displace people.
“Like what happened at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo. They didn’t take, not even the handset or phone of anyone. They just came in and blasted the whole place with a grenade and all that and left.”
