A Fulani group, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) said the recent arrest of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, assailants by security forces has clearly exonerated herdsmen who were wrongfully accused of carrying out the brutal attack on innocent worshippers.

Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello, KACRAN’S National President stated this in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to Newsmen in Damaturu.

While commending Nigeria’s security agencies for a job well done leading to the exposure and continuous arrest of the assailants, Bello said this brings to an end the wrongful accusation of law-abiding Nigerians who have no hand in the Owo attack.

“The exculpation of our law-abiding herders who were residing in Ondo State, but were accused of being amongst the suspected master minders of the barbaric act as wrongly pointed out by the Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu subjected many herders to be victims of reprisal attacks by touts”, he added.

The National President appealed to Nigerians to desist from making hasty decisions, and comments as well as taking laws into their own hands when something bad happens in their areas, but rather allow security agencies to do their job professionally.

“We also appeal to Ondo State Governor, HE Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu to kindly pay compensation to the victims of Owo Church reprisals attacks whose relatives were innocently killed or lost their properties that are the source of their livelihood.

“We also want to call on our security agencies and Amotekun who were said to have made some arrests in connection to the attack and are still detaining many Herders to as a matter of urgent public importance release them since the perpetrators of the said shameful criminal act have been exposed,” he appealed.

The Association, through the National President, also appealed to Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to execute the Presidential Executive Order given to him to reclaim all the encroached grazing reserves and blocked cattle routes in the Northern States, saying when executed can end the movement of herders to the southern part of the country thereby reducing herders/farmers clashes.

KACRAN, however, commiserated with the families and relatives of Owo victims as well as that of herders who were innocently killed during reprisal attacks.