Alleged Owo Church Attack: Court Grants DSS Request to Shield Witness Identities

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) to shield the identities of witnesses in the trial of five suspects accused of carrying out the 2022 Owo Catholic Church attack in Ondo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request after DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, moved a motion ex-parte, which was not opposed by the defendants’ lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad. Eze argued that the measure was necessary due to threats against prosecution witnesses.

The defendants, Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), are facing a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government.

The charge, filed on July 23 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions, alleges that the accused joined the Al-Shabab terrorist group in 2021 and operated a cell in Kogi State.

They are further accused of detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and attacking worshippers with AK-47 rifles at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on June 5, 2022, an attack that killed over 40 worshippers and injured more than 100 others.

The prosecution listed some of the victims of the attack, including Ajanaku John, Onuoha Deborah, Onileke Esther, and John Bosede, among those who lost their lives, while others sustained grievous injuries.

The Federal Government said the alleged offences contravene several provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including Sections 12(a), 25(1), and 42(a)(ii), all of which carry severe penalties.