Owo killing: Don’t attack innocent northerners, Afenifere warns

Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has condemned the invasion and killing of worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in the Owo area of the state on Sunday.

In a statement signed by the group’s National organising secretary, Afenifere cautioned residents against taking out retaliation on innocent northerners living in the area.

The statement read, “The massacre in Owo Catholic church is a direct attack on Yoruba land. It is directed at Gov Rotimi Akeredolu for his unflinching support for security in Yoruba land by championing the Amatekun security outfits, his stringent upholding of the open gracing law and for his ” big mouth” about Southern cooperation 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 the law into their 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 course confusion and course war into 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.”