Owo Church Attack: Suspects Open Defence in Terrorism Trial

Suspects standing trial over the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on Wednesday opened their defence before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the terrorism case instituted against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The attack claimed the lives of 41 worshippers and left more than 140 others injured, in one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in recent years.

The defence phase commenced after the DSS concluded its case, having called 11 witnesses since the trial began on August 1, 2025, to substantiate the allegations against the defendants. The court had also earlier admitted the defendants’ confessional statements following a trial-within-trial to determine their voluntariness.

The five defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).

Opening his defence, the first defendant, Omeiza, told the court he was arrested on August 1, 2022, at his Eika Ohiziyen community in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. He described himself as an auxiliary nurse and said he was apprehended alongside two others identified as Hauwa and Yusuf.

He testified that while inside the security vehicle, he saw the fifth defendant, Abubakar, who had also been arrested and taken to Lokoja. According to him, they were held at the DSS office in Lokoja, where their personal details were documented.

Omeiza said he volunteered a statement the following day and remained in detention until August 18, 2022, when he learned that his elder brother had also been arrested. He added that before their transfer to Ondo State, he was not informed that the arrest was linked to the Owo church attack or any alleged membership of ISWAP or other terrorist groups.

At the DSS facility in Akure, he claimed he and his brother were detained together and subjected to hardship during interrogation in connection with the church attack.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned further hearing in the matter to March 6.