General Akpoer gave the names of the two terrorists as Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters says two more members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have been arrested in connection with Owo Catholic church attack.
A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpoer, said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the military in collaboration with Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS).
General Akpoer gave the names of the two terrorists as Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris.
According to the statement, Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris were arrested at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose local government area of Ondo State.
One of the suspects, Abdulhaleem, alongside other high-profile ISWAP commanders, had also previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene Local Government Area, Kogi State resulting in casualties.
The Chief of Defence State, General Leo Irabor at a media briefing on Tuesday announced the arrest of an ISWAP member, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (aka Bin Malik) at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on August 1, 2022, over the deadly attack on the Catholic Church.
Omeiza was arrested alongside other ISWAP members identified as Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi in a joint operation by the military and operatives of the DSS.
The CDS said preliminary investigation revealed that Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church.
He was also involved in the attack on a police station in Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State on June 23, 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.
The statement was titled, "Arrest of 2 additional suspected terrorists in connection with the Owo Catholic Church terrorists attack on 5 June 2022."
It partly read: "Recall that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his parley with media executives and editors yesterday, Tuesday 9 August 2022, informed of the arrest of 4 terrorists among those who carried out the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo on 5 June 2022.
"They were arrested through a combined operation by military and DSS personnel at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022. Those arrested include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
"Barely few hours after the disclosure by the CDS of the arrest of 4 of the Owo Catholic Church attackers, 2 additional ISWAP terrorists, who were also connected to the attack on the church were apprehended at Omialafara (Omulafa), Ose LGA, Ondo State yesterday, 9 August 2022.
"The arrests were made through the collaborative effort by military and DSS personnel. The suspects are Al-Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris. It is instructive to note that Abdulhaleem, alongside other high-profile ISWAP commanders, had also previously coordinated attacks on military targets in Okene, Okene LGA, Kogi State resulting in casualties.
"It is the avowed commitment of the leadership of the military, Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies to work in synergy to enthrone peace and security all over the country. This is due to the need for collaboration as an essential requirement to successfully deal with the existential asymmetric threats currently bedeviling our dear nation, Nigeria."
SaharaReporters had reported that gunmen suspected to be Islamic terrorists on Sunday, June 5, 2022, attacked St Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, killing 40 worshippers and injuring over 120 others.
Owo is the home town of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.