Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed August 19, 2025, as the trial date for five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 Owo church massacre, one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent Nigerian history.
The accused, Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar were arraigned on August 11 under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention) Act. They all pleaded not guilty and remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, left at least 50 worshippers dead and injured over 100 others.
According to court filings, the men allegedly joined Al Shabaab in 2021 and planned further assaults. Both Al Shabaab and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have denied involvement, and intelligence analysts remain divided on the group’s operational reach in Nigeria.
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Families of the victims, alongside human rights observers, say the trial is a crucial step toward justice and a measure of Nigeria’s ability to prosecute terrorism cases effectively.
