Three years after the horrific bombing and shooting at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, the Federal Government is set to arraign five men accused of carrying out the massacre that shocked the nation.
The suspects, Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar are to appear before Justice Obiorah Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to face nine counts of terrorism filed against them by the government.
The planned arraignment comes nearly three years after the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, announced their arrest, linking them to the June 5, 2022 attack, which the National Security Council attributed to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
On that fateful Sunday, armed assailants stormed the church during Mass, detonating explosives and opening fire on worshippers.
More than 40 people were killed, with dozens more sustaining life-changing injuries in what remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship.
Security experts and rights groups have long criticized the delay in prosecuting those allegedly responsible, describing it as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice in cases of mass violence.
The case is expected to draw national attention when proceedings begin in Abuja, as survivors and families of the victims continue to demand closure and accountability.
