A federal high court in Abuja has approved a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect its witnesses in the trial of five suspects linked to the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Judge Emeka Nwite granted the application on Tuesday, August 19, following a motion by DSS counsel Calistus Eze, which was unopposed by defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad. Eze cited threats against potential witnesses as the reason for the request.

The suspects, Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, were arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count charge filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation. They are accused of involvement in the murder of over 40 worshippers during the church attack.

According to the federal government, the defendants and others at large had joined the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in 2021. They allegedly operated a cell in Kogi State and held meetings at the Government Secondary School in Ogamirana, Kogi, and behind Omialafa Central Mosque in Ose, Ondo, to plan the attack.

On June 5, 2022, the suspects allegedly detonated improvised explosive devices and opened fire on worshippers, resulting in more than 40 deaths, including Ajanaku John, Onuoha Deborah, Onileke Esther, and John Bosede. Over 100 others, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther, and Ogungbade Peter, were reportedly injured during the assault.

The suspects face charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, including Section 25(1) for terrorist affiliation and Section 42(a)(ii) for attacks with intent to cause death and advance a religious ideology.