Three years after the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State where scores of worshippers were killed, the Federal Government is set to arraign five suspected terrorists involved in the attack.
Persecondnews recalls that on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at about 11:30 am, some gunmen, who disguised as worshippers, had detonated explosives and fired gunshots inside the church during a mass.
The suspects will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The five suspects, who were escorted into the courtroom by operatives of the Department of State Services(DSS) at about 9:05am, include Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
Persecondnews reports that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is prosecuting the case on FG’s behalf.
The AGF, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, preferred nine counts against the defendants.
In the charge filed and signed by Mr. M.B. Abubakar (SAN), Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the suspects, and others who are at large, were alleged to have sometime in 2021, joined and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group.
They were alleged to have their “cell in Kogi and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. ”
In count two, they were alleged to have on May 30, 2022; June 3, 2022 and June 4, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA in Kogi 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 they carried out on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
They offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
As at the time of the report, the suspects are yet to be arraigned.
Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the late former Governor of Ondo State disclosed that 22 people lost their lives in the attack, with 56 individuals injured and hospitalised.
A state funeral was held for the victims on June 17, 2022.
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