Akeredolu, Police Allay Fears over Owo Attack, as Victims Narrate Ordeals

Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said on Wednesday shooting at the yard of the Craneburg Construction Company in Owo was aimed at destroying some of their equipment and not to maim or kill anyone. Akeredolu stated this when he visited the construction site in company of heads of security agencies in the state. He said: "I want to allay the fears of our people. Clearly, what happened here on Wednesday night was not an attempt to kidnap anybody because they went away with nobody. And we have in the premises over hundred people living there. "Yes, there were sporadic gunshots at the wall but they never went inside to kill anybody. It is better for everybody to know. They didn't go inside there to kill anybody. The only two people who had some gunshots wounds were security men who they saw outside the premises. "So, it is clear to us that their intention was to attack one or two equipment here, which they did. Their explosives affected the tyres and the windscreen of another vehicle. And we have close to 50 vehicles here. For us, we are looking at it. We are not clear yet about their intention, but this is not one that should send unnecessary panic or fear into the minds of our people. This should not cause panic. "For the contractors, Owo is a relatively safe place for them. So, they didn't have armed people here. Maybe we will have to support them to have armed people here to protect all their equipment, including their vehicles. They have been here for over five years. They had the Ore bridge and other roads. So, they are doing so many things for us and they are doing well, and we are ready to give them necessary protection.” The governor also reassured the people of his administration’s commitment to protect lives and property, stressing that the Wednesday night shooting was not anything near the June 5 attack in the town. “We will protect our people and their property. So, there should be no panic. Yes, there was shooting, but it was not anything near what we had on June 5 attack at St Francis Church. This was not aimed to maim and kill. "I believe our people will understand better to know the difference. So, there is no need for any panic. We have given them all the assurance; we will get this place protected. I will continue to support them," Akeredolu added. Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has called on the residents of the state, particularly those in Owo community, to cooperate with the Command in its bid to arrest the perpetrators of construction site attack. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Oyeyemi Oyediran, in a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, urged the people to be calm while the command was carrying out its investigation into the incident. The police, in the statement, confirmed that the some explosives devices were used by the attackers, while two workers of the construction company were injured and had been admitted at a hospital. The statement read: "The shooting incident occurred at about 10 p.m. of July 27, 2022, and was promptly responded to by officers covering the jurisdiction. "At the scene, the officers met the duo of one Rifum Lawrence, 50 and Abraham Opara, 45, with bullet wounds. They were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo where they were admitted and are currently in stable condition. "The state Commissioner of Police equally led investigative operatives and officers of the Explosive Ordinance Department-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield explosives also known as anti-bomb squad, to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. "The anti-bomb squad confirmed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used to burst a tractor tyre at the scene of the crime. "The Command urged the people of the state to be calm as the affected area has been cordoned and investigation has commenced to unravel the mystery behind the incident." Speaking with THISDAY at the Federal Medical Centre Owo, one of the victims, Lawrence, said he escaped the attack miraculously as he fell into the gutter after being shot by the hoodlums. He narrated that: "It was late in the evening (on Wednesday); I just ate and bathed and came out close to the gate, and I didn't know those people, they shot me and my brother. I didn't know where the gunshots were coming from-my brother and I were shot. When I was hit with the bullet, I fell inside the gutter and I started crawling. So we got to the main road and I saw a commercial bike man who took me to the hospital. "I know they were many, they came with an 18 seater white van. I saw them with guns, but I don't know where they came from." The second victim, Opara, while trying to narrate the incident, shed tears, perhaps, due to the excruciating pains from the injuries sustained.