The Federal High Court in Abuja has commenced the trial of five suspects accused of masterminding the June 5, 2022 bombing of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which killed more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned the suspects — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — on August 11, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite.
They face nine counts of terrorism and related offences, to which they all pleaded not guilty.
According to the DSS, the men are alleged members of the Al Shabab terrorist group, with a cell operating in Kogi State. They are accused of carrying out the Owo attack in pursuit of their extremist religious ideology.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants held meetings in 2022 at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, and behind Omialafa Central Mosque in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, where they planned the deadly assault.
The charges cite Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, under which the offences are punishable.
