Five men accused of carrying out the 2022 massacre at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, have been arraigned before a federal high court in Abuja. The attack, which left at least 50 worshippers dead and over 100 injured, remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest acts of religious violence in recent years.
The suspects – Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar – face charges under Nigeria’s terrorism law. They pleaded not guilty and were ordered to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) until their trial begins. Judge Emeka Nwite has set the trial date for August 19.
What Are the Allegations Against the Accused?
Court documents allege the men joined the East African militant group Al Shabaab in 2021 and plotted attacks, including one at a public school in central Nigeria and another near a mosque located about 30 kilometres from Owo’s St Francis Catholic Church. While Al Shabaab has not claimed responsibility for the church massacre, and its operational presence in Nigeria remains unverified, authorities initially pointed to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as a possible perpetrator. ISWAP, along with Boko Haram, has been responsible for a prolonged insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, though the group also did not claim the attack.
The case will serve as a key test of Nigeria’s ability to prosecute terrorism-related crimes effectively. With the country facing ongoing insurgencies and rising insecurity, the trial’s outcome will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. For the victims’ families and the Owo community, it represents a crucial step toward justice more than three years after the tragedy.
By Lucky Anyanje