The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed that two of the men arrested over the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, were members of a foreign terrorist organization.
The disclosure was made on Monday during the arraignment of five suspects before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Those arraigned were Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
According to the charges filed, the suspects are alleged to have conspired with others to launch the June 5, 2022 assault, during which armed men stormed the Catholic Church while worshippers gathered for Mass. The attackers detonated explosives and opened fire, killing at least 50 people and injuring scores more in what remains one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria’s recent history.
Foreign terrorist links
In its submission, the DSS disclosed that two of the defendants had established ties with a foreign extremist group before the Owo massacre. The secret police said the men had been recruited into the organization in 2021 and had collaborated with other militants to plan and execute the church attack, alongside other violent crimes.
The DSS emphasized that the discovery points to the transnational nature of terrorist operations in Nigeria and raises alarm about the infiltration of foreign groups working in tandem with local cells to destabilize communities.
Terrorism charges
The Federal Government charged the suspects under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The indictments include:
Membership of a terrorist organization
Conspiracy to commit terrorist acts
Planning and carrying out attacks against worshippers
Possession of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and firearms
Hostage-taking
Causing deaths and grievous bodily harm
The prosecution argued that the evidence gathered during investigations clearly ties the accused to both the planning and execution of the Owo massacre.
Not guilty plea
During the proceedings, all five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, Justice Nwite ordered that they remain in DSS custody pending trial, which has been scheduled to begin on August 19, 2025.
The Owo church massacre shocked Nigeria and drew widespread condemnation from across the globe. Images of blood-soaked pews and lifeless worshippers, many of them women and children, sparked outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against terrorism.
Security analysts have since described the attack as a watershed moment, not only because of its scale and brutality but also because of the apparent involvement of a foreign terrorist group in orchestrating violence on Nigerian soil.
The DSS revelation is expected to deepen ongoing security debates on how extremist groups outside Nigeria’s borders are able to penetrate local networks, recruit followers, and carry out deadly operations with devastating consequences for ordinary citizens.
As the trial progresses, families of the victims, the Catholic Church, and Nigerians at large will be watching closely, hoping for justice to be served. The case could also provide greater insight into the methods, funding, and connections between local armed groups and foreign terror organizations seeking to destabilize West Africa.
