Owo Church Attack: Five suspects arraigned on terrorism charges in Abuja

More than three years after the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, the Federal Government has arraigned five men alleged to have carried out the assault.

The defendants, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

They are accused of being members of the Al Shabab terrorist group and orchestrating the June 5, 2022 attack that killed 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others. The prosecution alleges the attack was carried out to advance a religious ideology.

All five pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.

Prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, asked the court to remand the defendants in custody pending trial. However, defence lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad, urged the court to compel the DSS to grant the defendants’ families and legal representatives access to them, noting that they had been in detention since 2022 without such contact.

Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to remain in custody and fixed August 19 for the commencement of trial.

The charges detail alleged meetings in Kogi and Ondo states where the attack was planned, the possession of AK-47 rifles and improvised explosive devices, and the killing and injuring of scores of worshippers during the assault.

The prosecution maintains the offences contravene multiple provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and carry severe penalties.