Owo church attack suspects plead not guilty

Five men accused of orchestrating the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, have pleaded not guilty to nine terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This shocking development comes nearly three years after one of Nigeria’s deadliest church attacks, which left over 40 worshippers dead and scores wounded.

The Arraignment: Denial in the Dock

The accused—Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdul Malik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar were formally arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite.

All five men denied the nine terrorism counts leveled against them by the Federal Government.

Allegedly, they are members of the violent Al-Shabaab terrorist faction operating an illicit cell in Kogi State.

Justice Nwite ordered the immediate remanding of the suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and scheduled the trial to commence on August 19, 2025.

The extended delay in bringing these men to justice fuels skepticism about the efficiency and commitment of Nigerian security agencies in handling terrorism cases.

Recalling the Horror: What Happened at Saint Francis Church?

On that harrowing Pentecost Sunday morning, gunmen masquerading as worshippers launched a brutal assault on Saint Francis Catholic Church.

Armed with firearms and explosives, they detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) outside, then opened fire on the congregation inside during mass.

The main entrance was locked, turning the church into a death trap for those trying to escape.

First responders and survivors recount scenes of chaos and carnage, with bodies strewn across the church floor and many innocent worshippers gunned down in cold blood.

Over 40 people died, including children, while dozens more sustained severe injuries.

Local hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties.

Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers split into groups shooting from outside and inside the church, systematically targeting congregants.

Official Narratives and Unanswered Questions

The Nigerian government quickly blamed the infamous Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for masterminding the attack a group notoriously implicated in other terrorist operations across Nigeria.

Then Ondo State Governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, condemned the attack as a “crime against humanity,” pledging to uphold the spirit of resilience.

However, Akeredolu also criticized the federal government’s security architecture.

Suggesting that a single police command cannot guarantee safety and reinforcing his call for the creation of state police.

This demand highlights chronic security gaps in Nigeria’s law enforcement apparatus.

The state’s regional security outfit, Amotekun, was acknowledged to be under-equipped to face the sophisticated threats posed by terrorists.

Arrests: Too Little, Too Late?

Despite General Lucky Irabor’s announcement in August 2022 that the culprits had been apprehended.

The delay in arraignment raises troubling concerns.

One of the suspects is reportedly a high-ranking ISWAP member involved in planning further attacks.

The coordination of arrests between the military and DSS allegedly led to early captures in Kogi and Ondo states.

Still, the slow judicial process calls into question whether justice is being served or if this is mere political theater.

Skepticism persists over whether these arrests effectively dismantle terror networks or simply serve as symbolic gestures to placate public anger.

The Larger Security Crisis: Terrorism in Nigeria

The Owo church bombing exposes the wider, persistent failure of Nigeria’s security agencies to protect civilians from extremist violence.

ISWAP and Al-Shabaab continue to threaten the stability of regions like northern and southwestern Nigeria.

The government’s apparent sluggishness and lack of transparency in prosecuting suspects deepen public mistrust.

Many Nigerians view the prolonged delay and bureaucratic inefficiency as emblematic of a broken justice system that struggles to convict terrorists or break the cycle of recurrent violence.

Victims’ families and communities are left to wrestle with grief amid a climate of impunity and insecurity.

Calls for Reform Amid Continued Violence

Governor Akeredolu’s calls for state police highlight the urgent need for institutional reform.

The presence of only a centralized police force hampers rapid, localized responses to terror threats.

Meanwhile, regional security outfits like Amotekun face resource constraints that limit their operational efficacy.

The Owo tragedy underscores the vulnerability of religious institutions and the failure to safeguard sacred spaces even during worship scenarios that should demand the highest security priority.

A Community’s Cry for Justice and Accountability

The Owo attack did more than kill; it tore at the fabric of community trust and peace.

As the accused plead not guilty, families of victims await answers and justice.

The judicial system’s slow pace and limited communication fuel frustration and doubt.

This scenario paints a grim picture of the Nigerian state’s battle against terrorism one marked by delays.

Missed opportunities, and a seeming disconnect between security assurances and realities on the ground.