Owo attack: South-west governors asked to launch ‘Operation Sweep Terrorism’

The Committee on Charter of Protocol (CCOP) has asked south-west governors to launch “Operation Sweep Terrorism out of Yorubaland”.

CCOP said this in reaction to the killing of worshippers in a church in Owo, Ondo state.

On Sunday, St Francis Catholic Church in Owo was attacked by gunmen while mass was in progress. Many — including women and children — were killed in the attack.

In a statement on Monday, Deji Osibogun and Yomi Bolarinwa, on behalf of the group, said those arrested for committing such crimes must be prosecuted.

While setting out a seven-point demand, they said none of the suspects arrested should be transferred to Abuja, adding that their cases should be prosecuted in the south-west.

“Hence the Operation Sweep Terrorism out of Yorubaland must not stop at their arrests but must also proceed towards the diligent prosecution of their cases which ordinarily attracts death penalty for their murderous activities,” the statement reads.

“All transport motorcycles a.k.a Okada, should be temporarily banned in all Southwest States for the next 10 months, in order for respective state governments to establish appropriate regulations for its operations or pass laws for its total ban.

“Each state security council in conjunction with all LG council areas in line with their statutory constitutional mandates should commence an immediate residency registration programme of all security personnel in each state.

“Each state government must establish a law or an edict for the compulsory registration of neighbourhood associations, and collaborate with the Police Community Relations Associations in each divisional Police headquarters.

“Similarly, Security Outfits operating across all the 137+19 LGs in SW including Kogi(12), Kwara(5) &Edo(2) must be registered. In this regard, the Governors of Kogi and Kwara must be co opted to avoid a breach of security or loopholes from their areas.

“The Operation Sweep Terrorism out of Yorubaland must be coordinated in conjunction with Amotekun , OPC, Agbekoya, Yoruba Hunters Association and our farmers union.”

The group said the operation will prevent the killing of innocent people in the zone.

“Any further massacre in Yorubaland as a result of the non-implementation of these 7 demands must henceforth be squarely blamed on the governors,” the group said.