The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses in the ongoing trial of five men accused of carrying out the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday after DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, presented an ex-parte motion requesting witness protection. The application, citing ongoing threats against the witnesses, was unopposed by defence counsel, Abdullahi Muhammad.
The five defendants — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack that claimed the lives of more than 40 churchgoers and left over 100 others injured.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Government filed a nine-count charge against the accused, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, on July 23. The charge was brought forward by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The suspects, along with others still at large, are alleged to have joined the Al Shabab terrorist group in 2021 and operated a terror cell based in Kogi State. These actions violate Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecutors claim that on June 5, 2022, the defendants used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with intent to kill, resulting in the deaths of numerous worshippers, including Ajanaku John, Onuoha Deborah, Onileke Esther, and John Bosede.
It is further alleged that the defendants, armed with IEDs and AK-47 rifles, stormed the church with the aim of promoting their religious ideology. During the attack, they reportedly held congregants hostage and caused serious injuries to over 100 individuals, such as Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther, and Ogungbade Peter.
The offences are punishable under multiple provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including Sections 12(a) and 42(a)(ii).