The Federal Government on Monday arraigned five men before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which over 40 worshippers died

The five accused persons are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Over 40 people were reported to have died in the attack, while over 100 others sustained injuries.

The five defendants were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025 filed by the Department of State Services, DSS.

They are accused of being members of Al Shabab terrorist group, belonging to a cell in Kogi State.

The defendants are also alleged to have carried out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.

They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them by an official of the court.

Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting lawyer, Calistus Eze urged the court to order that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS pending trial.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad however prayed the court to order the DSS to allow members of the defendants’ families and their lawyers to have access to them.

Muhammad said the defendants have been in custody since 2022 when they were arrested and have not had access to family members and lawyers.

Eze said it was the standard practice that detainees’ family members and lawyers should be granted access after a formal written request.

He noted that it has become inevitable at this stage that the defendants be allowed access to their lawyers to enable them prepare their defence.

Ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS.

Justice Nwite also ordered that the DSS grant the defendants access to members of their families and their lawyers.

He then adjourned till August 19 for the commencement of trial.

Some counts in the charge read:

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5™ June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church , Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including: Onuchukwu Happiness, Ogungbade Vivan and Nnakwe Paschaline Ugochinyerem and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(a)(i) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed two terrorists and recovered weapons during separate operations in Zamfara and Kebbi states, the 1 Brigade Headquarters confirmed on Sunday.

The development was disclosed in a post by security analyst Zagazola Makama via his X handle.

According to the report, at around 10:13 a.m. on Sunday, troops of the 1 Brigade conducted a patrol to Tubali village in Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara, following intelligence of a planned attack on the Forward Operating Base in Galadi.

The troops engaged terrorists in Tubali, killing one and recovering an AK-47 rifle. No military casualties were reported, and the patrol returned to base by 2:10 p.m.

In a separate operation at 10:12 a.m., troops launched a patrol to Konangoro-Duko junction in Arewa Local Government Area, Kebbi State. This followed an attack on a joint Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service location.

The terrorists fled when troops arrived but were pursued, resulting in the death of one terrorist and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and two magazines.

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‎A major stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nsukka (Enugu North) senatorial district and former Commissioner for Housing in the State, Peter Okonkwo has alleged that the party is being attacked because it insists President Bola Tinubu must run for a second term.
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‎Okonkwo disclosed this over the weekend during a reception rally for defectors at St. Charles Catholic Church field, Opi, Nsukka.
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‎He claimed that sponsored thugs had destroyed canopies and plastic seats in an attempt to forestall the reception rally.
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‎The alleged attack, it was gathered, almost marred the rally attended by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, the state party chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah; three members of the House of Representatives: Sunday Umeha (Udi/Ezeagu), Chimaobi Atu (Enugu North/Enugu South), Paul Nnamchi (Enugu East/Isiguzo); among others.
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‎Okonkwo claimed that the venue was attacked three times with sporadic shooting in the air, while the people remained resilient.He said,
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‎ “Honourable Minister, let me officially tell you that they attacked this gathering here three times today. They came the first time, they attacked us; we were so resilient, we regrouped again and came back. They attacked us again, we were so resilient, and we are here again. They destroyed properties worth millions in this attack, they assaulted people, they wounded people, they were shooting double-barreled guns against our people”
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‎“The poster of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was torn to pieces, defaced and destroyed. They are attacking us with militia because we insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must do his second term. Let me send a loud message clearly: they should be prepared to attack us more.”

“The more they attack us, the more we go for President Ahmed Tinubu; the more they shoot at us with double-barreled guns, the more we go for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. After three consecutive attacks and this teeming population here, these masses, these women still came back to this arena to support the second tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”
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