The Federal Government is set to arraign five suspected terrorists in connection with the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where scores of worshippers were killed.
The suspects will appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Escorted into the courtroom by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at about 9:05 a.m., the accused persons were identified as Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Federal Government.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, the AGF levelled nine counts against the defendants. The charge, filed and signed by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, alleges that the suspects — along with others still at large — joined and became members of the Al-Shabab Terrorist Group sometime in 2021.
They allegedly established a terrorist cell in Kogi State, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count two alleges that on May 30, June 3, and June 4, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana in Adavi LGA, Kogi State, and behind Omialafa Central Mosque in Ose LGA, Ondo State, the defendants held meetings where they planned the Owo attack carried out on June 5, 2022.
This offence is said to contravene and is punishable under Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
As at the time of filing this report, the arraignment of the suspects had yet to commence.
