Justice Behind Closed Doors? Court Allows DSS To Protect Witnesses In Owo Church Massacre Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a request by 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 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The attack claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers and left more than 100 injured.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

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 cases are highly sensitive and expose witnesses to serious security threats. He stressed that shielding their identities was necessary to prevent intimidation or possible attacks, thereby ensuring the trial proceeds safely.

Since the defence team did not oppose the application, Justice Nwite granted the request, directing that the DSS must keep the names and personal details of all prosecution witnesses confidential.

The defendants standing 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 alleged members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist network with a cell operating in Kogi State. They are accused of executing the Owo church massacre as part of extremist religious activities.

The brutal attack, carried out during a Sunday mass with explosives and gunfire, shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation both locally and internationally. The Catholic Church and the Ondo State Government described it as an assault on humanity.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial will continue in Abuja under heavy security, with the DSS now mandated to safeguard the identities of its witnesses.