Court Denies Bail to Suspects in Owo Church Attack
A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the bail application of five men accused of involvement in the deadly June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The suspects, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, were arraigned on nine terrorism charges, including membership of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and plotting additional attacks.
Justice Emeka Nwite dismissed the bail application, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of the defendants absconding.
The judge also noted procedural defects in the bail application and ruled that granting bail would pose a significant security risk and potentially intimidate witnesses.
The suspects face multiple terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The prosecution presented evidence of the defendants’ alleged ties to foreign terrorist fighters affiliated with Al-Shabaab.
The court granted the prosecution’s request for protective measures for witnesses, allowing them to testify under veils or disguises. The case has been adjourned to October 19, 2025, for commencement of trial, with the defendants remaining in DSS custody.
The Owo church attack, which claimed over 40 lives and injured more than 100 people, remains one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Nigeria in recent years, sparking widespread condemnation and concerns about the spread of extremist networks.
