The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed to a federal court that the attackers responsible for the devastating 2022 assault on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, have connections with international terrorist organizations. This disclosure came during the arraignment of five suspects facing terrorism charges related to the massacre that claimed the lives of at least 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others.
The suspects—identified as Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—have pleaded not guilty to the allegations. According to prosecutors, the accused are linked to foreign extremist groups, including affiliations with the East African militant faction Al Shabaab, which is known for its association with the al-Qaeda network. The suspects reportedly migrated from Somalia to Nigeria’s Kogi State and are implicated in planning and executing terror attacks beyond the 2022 church massacre.
The trial, which began on August 19, 2025, is being closely watched as a critical test of Nigeria’s capacity to prosecute cases involving terrorism and foreign militant networks. The government has stressed the importance of addressing these transnational security threats as part of broader efforts to combat insurgency and restore peace in affected regions.
The DSS’s assertion highlights the growing challenge of terrorist groups extending their reach into southwestern Nigeria, an area previously considered relatively peaceful compared to the northeast. It also underscores the complex security dynamics facing Nigeria as it grapples with multiple insurgencies and violent extremism.
As the legal proceedings progress, the nation awaits justice for the victims of the Owo attack and hopes for stronger measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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