Five men suspected to be behind the 2022 bombing of Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, have pleaded not guilty to nine counts of terrorism filed against them by the Federal Government.
The suspects: Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdul Malik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar were arraigned on Monday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are alleged members of the Al-Shabab terrorist group, with a cell based in Kogi State.
Justice Nwite ordered that the suspects be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and fixed August 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
Their arraignment comes three years after the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), announced that those responsible for the deadly attack had been arrested. At the time, the National Security Council linked the incident to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The Owo church attack, which occurred during a Sunday Mass on June 5, 2022, left over 40 worshippers dead and many others injured, as gunmen opened fire on congregants during service.
The then Governor of Ondo State, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, condemned the massacre, describing it as a crime against humanity.
In his reaction at the time, Akeredolu had reiterated calls for the creation of state police, arguing that a centralised police structure cannot adequately secure all parts of the country.
“A single police command cannot guarantee safety in this country. We must have state police now. We are doing our best with Amotekun, but the corps faces serious limitations in accessing the equipment needed to fight these criminals,” he said.
