A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted permission to the Department of State Services (DSS) to hide the identities of witnesses in the trial of five men accused of carrying out the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the approval on Tuesday, August 19, after DSS lawyer Calistus Eze filed the motion, which was not opposed by defence counsel Abdullahi Muhammad.

The DSS explained that some witnesses had received threats, making their protection necessary.

The five suspects – Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar – were arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count charge brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

They are accused of being part of the killings of more than 40 worshippers during the Owo church massacre.

According to the federal government, the defendants joined the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in 2021 and allegedly ran a terror cell in Kogi State.

It was also claimed that they held secret meetings at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Kogi, and behind Omialafa Central Mosque in Ose, Ondo, to plan the deadly attack.

On June 5, 2022, the suspects allegedly planted explosives and opened fire on worshippers, leading to the deaths of over 40 people, including Ajanaku John, Onuoha Deborah, Onileke Esther, and John Bosede.

More than 100 others, such as Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther, and Ogungbade Peter, were reported injured in the brutal assault.

The accused persons are facing terrorism charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

These include Section 25(1), which covers membership of a terrorist group, and Section 42(a)(ii), which addresses violent attacks aimed at causing death and promoting extremist religious beliefs.