Five men accused of orchestrating one of Nigeria’s deadliest recent terrorist attacks have been remanded in state security custody following their arraignment in Abuja.
The suspects – all Nigerian nationals aged between 20 and 47 – are charged in connection with the bombing and shooting at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on 5 June 2022. The attack, carried out during Sunday mass, left more than 40 worshippers dead and over 100 wounded, shocking a country already grappling with multiple security crises.
Prosecutors allege the men belong to an Al Shabab cell operating in Kogi State and held a series of planning meetings in late May and early June 2022. The indictment claims they used improvised explosive devices alongside assault rifles to maximise casualties, targeting civilians to advance a radical religious ideology.
The nine-count charge, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions on 23 July, accuses them of offences under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. These include membership of a terrorist organisation, conspiracy, murder, and causing grievous bodily harm.
At Monday’s hearing, government lawyer Calistus Eze obtained the court’s permission to proceed with the case during the judiciary’s annual recess. The defence did not contest the prosecution’s request for continued detention but sought guaranteed access for relatives and counsel.
Justice Emeka Nwite scheduled the trial to begin on 19 August, ordering the Department of State Services to keep the men in custody until then. Several other suspects remain at large.
