Fact-Check: Was Idris Ojo Among the Terrorists that Attacked Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State?

Fact-Check: Was Idris Ojo Among the Terrorists that Attacked Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State?

Claim:

There was a claim on social media that, a rearrested Kuje prison escapee, Idris Ojo, was among the terrorists that attacked a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State on June 05, 2022.

Full Text:

A text accompanied with photos of some Kuje Prison escapees has gone viral on social media especially WhatsApp claiming that one, Idris Ojo (who also appeared on the escapees’ photos collage) was among the terrorists that had attacked Owo church in Ondo state.

The claim reads as follow;

“This guy named IDRIS OJO was reportedly one of the TERRORISTS that attacked the CATHOLIC CHURCH in OWO. 

“The same name appeared on the list of the prison escapees, one of the high profile members of the breakaway faction of Boko Haram terrorist group, Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“If he is the same person, then something is wrong somewhere. Because, the church was attacked on 5th of June 2022, before the attack of Abuja prison being July, 5th 2022 which is exactly a month between the two attacks on different institutions of religious worship and correctional centre.

“Something is amiss,”it concluded.

Observation

Ever since the invasion of Kuje prison and the corresponding escape of high profile criminals belonging to ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists groups, the combined efforts of security agencies have ensured the rearrests of some of the escapees in various states.

The media have reported that the During a media parley with editors, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor announced the arrest of Idris Ojo. Some media reports after the parley were confusing on the status of Idris, with a claim that he participated in Owo attack and that he also escaped from Kuje prison. 

Verification

In an official press release sent to PRNigeria, the Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpo cleared the air on the suspect.

The press release states that during the media parley, General Lucky Irabor disclosed that many arrests were made in respect to attacks on Owo Church and Kuje Prison.

The statement reads in parts: “The Defence Chief also mentioned the arrest of a terrorist, Idris Ojo (32 years), who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on 7 August 2022. Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre highlighted on 5 July 2022.

“The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim (39 years), a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him.

“The CDS further revealed that, the arrest of Idris Ojo was crucial as he, along with others, was already planning terrorists attacks against some selected targets, in order to create fear amongst the citizenry aimed at discrediting the government.”

Verdict/Conclusion 

The claim that Idris Ojo was among the terrorists who attacked Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State is FALSE.

Based on publicly available records, Idris Ojo was not part of the terrorists that attacked Owo church, but rather he was a Kuje prison escapee who was rearrested in Ondo while trying to mastermind another episode of terror attack. The claim is therefore, NOT TRUE.

By PRNigeria