Federal Government has arraigned five suspects before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which resulted in the deaths of over 40 worshippers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suspects, identified as Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, were brought to court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and charged with nine counts of terrorism-related offences.
According to the charges, the suspects allegedly joined the Al-Shabaab Terrorist Group in 2021 and held meetings to plan the attack at various locations, including Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA in Kogi, and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo.
The Federal Government alleged that the suspects’ actions were punishable under Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The case is expected to proceed to trial, with the suspects facing serious charges related to the deadly attack on the church.
