The Federal Government of Nigeria has arraigned five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 bombing of Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The suspects include Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar, faced nine counts of terrorism before Justice Obiorah Egwatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleading not guilty to the nine counts of terrorism brought by the Federal Government.
The arraignment comes three years after security authorities announced the arrest of those believed to be behind the deadly attack. The National Security Council had linked the incident to the Islamic State West Africa Province, describing it as part of the group’s wider campaign of violence in the region.
The Owo church attack claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left many others injured. Gunmen reportedly stormed the church during a Sunday mass, detonating explosives and opening fire on congregants in one of Nigeria’s deadliest assaults on a place of worship.
