The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to conceal the identities of witnesses who will testify in the ongoing trial of five men accused of carrying out the deadly terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling on Tuesday while delivering judgment on an ex-parte motion filed by the DSS. The security agency had argued that revealing the identities of its witnesses could put their lives at risk, given the sensitive nature of the case and the dangers commonly associated with terrorism trials.
Over 40 worshippers were killed and more than 100 others injured when suspected terrorists attacked the Owo church with explosives and firearms during a Sunday mass. The massacre shocked the entire nation and was one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Nigeria in recent years.
In court, a legal practitioner, Dr. C.S. Eze, who represented the DSS, told the judge that the lives of the witnesses were at risk and needed protection. He said such measures were common in terrorism-related cases and urged the court to grant the order to protect both the identities and personal details of all prosecution witnesses.
“The nature of terrorism trials makes it necessary to protect the identities of witnesses from public exposure,” Eze submitted.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, agreed with the arguments and ruled that the names and identities of the witnesses must not be made public. He ordered that the DSS should take all necessary steps to ensure their safety.
### **Who Are the Accused?**
The five men standing trial for the Owo church attack are:
-Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza
-Al Qasim Idris
-Jamiu Abdulmalik
-Abdulhaleem Idris
-Momoh Otuho Abubakar
The defendants were arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 11, 2025. They were charged under a nine-count terrorism-related indictment, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, filed by the DSS.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are members of the terrorist group Al-Shabab, operating a cell in Kogi State. The DSS alleges that the group coordinated the Owo attack as part of a broader effort to promote their extremist religious ideology and cause widespread panic.
Despite the grave accusations, all five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
On June 5, 2022, heavily armed men stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, in Ondo State, and launched a brutal attack on worshippers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots and explosions during the mid-morning service.
Security agencies later said that high-powered explosives and assault rifles were used in the attack, which left at least 41 people dead and more than 100 others injured. The attack drew condemnation from across Nigeria and around the world, with calls for justice and stronger security for religious centres.
Though initially no group claimed responsibility, intelligence reports later linked the incident to terrorist cells with foreign training and connections, operating within Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North-Central regions.
The trial, now being closely watched across the country, is being handled with high security due to the sensitive nature of the charges and the profile of the suspects.
By granting the request for witness protection, the court aims to ensure that those who come forward to testify are not subjected to threats, intimidation, or harm. Such protective measures are becoming increasingly common in Nigeria’s terrorism trials, especially in cases involving mass casualties or international terror links.
Security experts have backed the court’s decision, describing it as essential for national security. “In terrorism trials like this, even the judges and prosecutors need extra protection,” said retired intelligence officer Ahmed Tukur. “Witnesses are the most vulnerable, and without them, it becomes difficult to prove such serious charges.”
The court is expected to continue hearing the case in coming weeks. Legal analysts say the trial will serve as a test of Nigeria’s resolve to hold terrorists accountable in a legal and transparent way.
Public interest remains high, especially among residents of Ondo State and Nigeria’s Christian communities, who are eager to see justice served.
Meanwhile, the DSS and other security agencies are also said to be tracking other suspects linked to the group and investigating possible connections to other attacks within and outside the country.
