Owo church attack: Court remands five suspected terrorists in DSS custody

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Emeka Nwite, sitting as a vacation judge, gave the order on Monday after the suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

The attack left more than 40 worshippers dead and over 100 others injured.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants, along with others still at large, were members of the Al Shabab terrorist group, operating a cell in Kogi State since 2021.

They are accused of planning the assault in late May and early June 2022, before detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and opening fire on congregants during mass.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, was filed on July 23 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice. At Monday’s proceedings, government counsel Calistus Eze successfully applied for leave to arraign the suspects during the court’s vacation.

Following their pleas, Eze requested a trial date and asked the court to keep the defendants in DSS custody. Defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad did not oppose the remand but urged the court to grant his clients access to their relatives and legal team, noting they had been held since 2022 without contact.

Eze responded that access would be allowed upon written request, adding that the defendants would have the necessary facilities to prepare their defence.

Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to August 19 and ordered that the suspects remain in DSS custody.

The charges against them include membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy, premeditated murder, use of IEDs, and causing grievous bodily harm — offences punishable under various sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.