UPDATED: FG PROSECUTES OWO CHURCH ATTACK SUSPECTS THREE YEARS AFTER, SUSPECTS PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Read Time:1 Minute, 20 Second
BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The Federal Government has arraigned Idris Omeiza; Al-Qasim Idris; Jamiu Abdulmalik; Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar, who are purported to be accountable for the June 5, 2022 explosion at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The accused individuals were arraigned before Justice Obiorah Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Federal Government lodged nine charges related to terrorism against the five defendants.
The arraignment of the suspects comes three years after the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, said those behind the attack were arrested.
The National security Council had linked the attack to heinous activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Exceeding 40 congregants lost their lives, and numerous others were injured when assailants breached the church during a Sunday service and discharged firearms at Catholics during the mass.
The then Ondo State Governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, had described the attack as a crime against humanity.
READ MORE:
EDO BY-ELECTION: PDP AND CANDIDATE URGE INEC, SECURITY AGENCIES TO UPHOLD PROFESSIONALISM
He had said the attack, though horrific, won’t not deter the indomitable spirit of the people of the state in their quest to fight insecurity. The then governor had re-echoed the calls for state police.
“A single police command can not guarantee safety in this country. We must have state police now. We are doing our best with Amotekun. But Amotekun is suffering a lot of limitations in getting all the equipment needed to fight these criminals,” he had said.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0