Akure – Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that Nigeria must be prepared to stop the wave of terrorism now spreading fast across the country.
Makinde stated this on Monday while speaking to journalists shortly after visiting the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where victims of the Sunday terror attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, are receiving treatment.
He wished that there was no nexus between the June 5, 2021 attack on Igangan, Oyo State and that of Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022.
The governor said the attack was unacceptable and highly condemnable.
Makinde said such attacks must never be allowed to happen again, calling on all stakeholders to be more prepared and ready to deploy intelligence to prevent a recurrence.
“We just saw a baby on the bed there struggling for life. It was a dastardly act. But we have to avoid any knee-jerk reaction.
“We have to use the intelligence that we have and not just say a particular thing cannot happen. We have to be prepared.
“I don’t want to make it sound as though this is a regional thing, but as long as it is not acceptable anywhere else, we don’t want to see this kind of thing anywhere in the South-West region of Nigeria,” he said.
The governor had, on Sunday, expressed his condolences to Governor Akeredolu, the families of the victims and Ondo State people on the incident, which he described as a dastardly act.
He said: “My deepest condolences to my brother, His Excellency Rotimi Akeredolu, the people of Owo, families of the victims and Ondo State on the dastardly attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo today.
“May the souls of the victims rest in peace.
“This unprovoked and barbaric attack is condemnable in its entirety. I urge the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are found and
brought to book.”
Makinde who also visited St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, the scene of the attack was received by his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu.(vitalnews)
