10 People Arrested After New Year Attack On Churches In Kwara

At least 10 suspected persons have arrested by men of the Nigerian police command for their alleged involvement in the attack on worshippers at Taiwo area of Ilorin, the state capital on New Year eve.

Naija News learnt that three persons were seriously injured and were said to be responding to medical attention in one of the private hospitals in the town.

Besides, vehicles and other property at the area were said to have been seriously damaged by the irate youths in the area.

Some suspected youths according to sources were said to have gone on rampage despite their refusal by the leaders of Taiwo area of Ilorin for the youths to embark on carnival in the area on the eve night of the new year in the area.

According to eyewitness account who sought anonymity, the Christians worshippers at Methodist and other churches in the area and Muslims faithful under the aegis of Quareeb Muslim Society that had their New Year eve services at one of the secondary schools at Taiwo were seriously attacked by the youths.

However, the state police command in a statement issued yesterday described the incident as an unfortunate one.
The statement which was signed by the state police command Public Relations, Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the police command had arrested 10 youths in connection with the attack.

He also confirmed the three people who sustained serious injuries during the attack were receiving medical attention in one of the private hospitals in Ilorin.

Okasanmi stressed: “It is important to note, that the attack has no religious undertone. It is simple an unlawful act by the disgruntled youths of the area, as both the Christian and Muslim gatherings in the area.”

He noted further that, the state police command has commenced full investigations into the act adding that, anybody found culpable in the act would face the full wrath of the law.

He therefore admonished the people of the state to continue to embark on their lawful assignment and assured that the police command would continue to be alive to its responsibility in order to ensure full maintenance of law and order.

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has condemned the midnight attack on worshipers.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba described the dastardly attack as criminal, satanic and alien to the state.

Ahmed, however, commended those who made efforts to protect some of the victims regardless of their religious inclination.

He therefore called on security agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the incident and unravel the perpetrators of the unholy act with a view to bringing them to book.

“Peace is sine qua non for the development of any society and the government will not tolerate any act capable of breaching peace, unity and tranquility of the state,” he said.

The governor called on the people of the state to imbibe spirit of tolerance and harmonious relationship for sustenance growth and economic development in the state.