DSS opposes bail for Owo church massacre suspects

The Department of State Services (DSS) has opposed the bail application filed by five suspected terrorists standing trial for the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which left over 40 worshippers dead and more than 100 injured.

At the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, urged Justice Emeka Nwite to reject the application, arguing that the defendants had links to foreign fighters associated with the Al-Shabab terrorist group and could intimidate witnesses or abscond if granted bail. He added that the prosecution witnesses had expressed fears of attack, necessitating an application for their protection.

The suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — were arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count terrorism charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad, however, urged the court to grant bail, saying his clients had been in custody since 2022 and were prepared to provide credible sureties to guarantee their appearance for trial.

After hearing both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned ruling on the bail plea until September 10. He also granted the DSS’ request to shield its witnesses, while approving an adjournment to allow the agency’s newly briefed lead prosecutor, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), to obtain a fiat from the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Two lawyers, Edward Ogar and Vincent Adodo, were present in court to watch brief for the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, the nominal complainant in the case.