The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted approval for the Department of State Services (DSS) to conceal the identities of witnesses in the trial of five suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists linked to the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The attack claimed over 40 lives and left more than 100 others injured.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by DSS counsel, Dr. C. S. Eze.
Eze argued that terrorism trials are extremely sensitive and expose witnesses to grave security threats. Shielding their identities, he said, was necessary to prevent intimidation or possible attacks, thereby ensuring the trial proceeds without obstruction.
Since the defence raised no objection, Justice Nwite granted the application and directed that all prosecution witnesses’ names and personal details remain confidential.
The five defendants facing trial are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar. They were arraigned on August 11, 2025, on a nine-count terrorism charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025.
According to the DSS, the accused are members of an Al-Shabaab terrorist cell operating in Kogi State and were responsible for the deadly Owo attack carried out with explosives and gunfire during Sunday mass.
The massacre, one of the deadliest church attacks in Nigeria’s history, sparked outrage across the country and drew international condemnation. The Catholic Church and the Ondo State Government described it as a brutal assault on humanity.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is continuing in Abuja under heavy security, with the DSS now mandated to safeguard the identities of its witnesses.
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