Owo Church Massacre: DSS Opposes Bail for Five Terror Suspects

 The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to deny bail to five men standing trial over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which claimed about 40 lives and left more than 100 others injured.

In a counter-affidavit opposing their bail application, the DSS alleged that the defendants had ties to foreign terrorist fighters linked to the Al-Shabab group and could abscond if released.

The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26),
Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They were arraigned on August 11 on nine counts, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, bordering on terrorism.

The DSS argued that granting them bail would endanger the safety of witnesses and jeopardize the trial. It noted that some accomplices of the defendants remain at large and have allegedly been making efforts to monitor court proceedings, intimidate witnesses, and attempt to secure the suspects’ release from custody.

According to the agency:

“There is a very high likelihood of the defendants evading trial in view of their connection to foreign fighters linked to the Al-Shabab terrorist group. The prosecution witnesses have expressed fears of attacks by the defendants’ cohorts and may not attend court sessions unless their safety is guaranteed.”

The DSS added that it has filed an ex parte application for witness protection while pursuing leads to apprehend other suspects linked to the plot.

However, defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, while moving the bail application on Tuesday, argued that his clients had been in custody since their arrest in 2022. He insisted that they were willing to provide credible sureties to prove their readiness to stand trial.

The Federal High Court will decide on the bail application at a later date.