The Federal High Court, Abuja, has approved a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to shield the identities of witnesses set to testify in the trial of five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 Owo church attack.
Justice Emeka Nwite, delivering ruling on Tuesday, held that protecting witnesses was necessary due to the sensitive nature of terrorism cases.
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — are facing a nine-count terrorism charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025).
Over 40 worshippers were killed and more than 100 injured in the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, bombing.
The accused, alleged members of an Al-Shabab cell in Kogi State, pleaded not guilty when arraigned on August 11.
