Akeredolu Begs Global Community to Support Fight Against Insurgency

•Terrorists demand N100m to release 36 abducted worshipers in Kaduna community

John Shiklam in Kaduna and Fidelis David in Akure

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday, appealed to the international community to help Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, adding that the state needed if Nigeria did not.

Akeredolu, who explained that the June 5th attack in Owo, which claimed 40 lives with many others injured, was perpetrated by terrorists, noted that the country must now accept that it was dealing with terrorism, especially that they were in almost every forest.

This is as terrorists, who attacked Maranatha Baptist Church and St Moses Catholic Church in Rubu community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday, had demanded N100 million for the release of their victims.

However, Akeredolu, who spoke while receiving members of Council of the All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, led by chairman, Dr. Onnuola Adewunmi, who came on a condolence visit, said:” We have terrorists in Nigeria.

“We need the world to assist Nigeria. If Nigeria doesn’t want it, Ondo State wants it. They still attacked somewhere in Ogun State recently.  There are terrorists lurking in our forests.”

Akeredolu, who also disclosed that the time was ripe for the people to be trained on basic civil-defence, reiterated that the people must, therefore, be prepared.

He also harped on the need for Churches to install CCTV as part of the security measures to prevent reoccurrence of the Owo terror attack. He thanked members of his Church for deeming it fit to pay the state a condolence visit all the way from Ibadan.

“I belong to a church that I am very proud of. And that church deemed it fit at this time in our state to pay a condolence visit. I thank you”, the Governor said.

Earlier, Chairman of Council, Dr. Onnuola Adewunmi, who commiserated with the governor and the poeple of the state in general over the Owo massacre, assured the governor that the church would intensify prayers for the state.

“Sir, you could trust that your church has always been praying for you. You could trust that your church has always supported you in prayers on numerous occasions. This one really overwhelmed us, that such a heinous crime could be committed in our land,” he added.

On the terrorists, who attacked Maranatha Baptist Church and St Moses Catholic Church in Rubu community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the village head, Mr. Elisha Mari, who was among those abducted disclosed this to journalists in an interview yesterday, when heads of security agencies and officials of the Kaduna government visited the area to assess the situation.

He confirmed that 36 worshipers were abducted during the attack.

Sources had said that on Sunday, some 30 people were abducted with several others missing.

Mari said, the terrorists freed him as the traditional leader of the community and asked him to go and bring N100 million to secure the release of other victims.

The traditional ruler said the terrorists, who were riding on 30 motorcycles invaded his community on Sunday in broad daylight, shooting sporadically, adding that the three people that were killed during the attack, attempted to fight the bandits.

He said it took them two hours to reach the hideout of the terrorists in the forest.

Meanwhile the abductors of 14 other people on Saturday in Mararaban Kajuru, also in Kajuru LGA, were yet to make any demand.

Sources in the area said the terrorists were yet to make any contact with the community.

“We have been waiting expecting their call since the attack on Saturday but we have not heard from them,” he said.