••• WARNS AGAINST REPRISAL ACTION
The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has said that herdsmen attacked Owo, Governor Rotimi AKEREDOLU’S hone town because of his defence of the Yoruba nation.
Over 50 innocent worshippers were massacred by terrorists in a gun attack at Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state.
The group in a statement by its Organizing Secretary, Apagun Kole Omololu flayed the attack which it described as a direct attack on Akeredolu.
However, it warned the citizens of Ondo state and entire Yoruba race against repraisal attack, stating that it was aimed at causing confusion and war in the land.
The statement read, “The massacre in Owo Catholic church is a direct attack on Yoruba land.
“The massacre in Owo Catholic church is a direct attack on Yoruba land.
“It is directed at Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for his unflinching support for security in Yoruba land by championing the Amotekun security outfits, his stringent upholding of the open grazing law, and for his ‘big mouth’ about Southern co-operation for equity and justice in Nigeria.
“We will not succumb to terrorist threats or attacks.
“They will not be allowed to bring down our civilisation. We will hunt the killers down. Citizens should not take law into their own hands by attacking innocent northerners.
“Only the terrorists, who are mostly foreign Fulani, should be fished out and finished off by the security forces.
“This attack is to cause confusion and cause war in our land. We should not play into their hands. This evil is condemned in the strongest term.
“We commiserate with the government and people of Ondo State, the Catholic Church, the Olowo of Owo and the people of Owo. May the soul of the departed rest in peace.”