Remember Owo? Justice Is Finally Coming for Church Attackers and Other Terror Suspects
By: Abudu Olalekan
In a rare, detailed update released Tuesday, the DSS confirmed that multiple high-profile terror suspects are currently facing trial across the country. These aren’t petty criminals. We’re talking about masterminds of brutal attacks — the kind that shook Nigeria to its core. From the Owo church massacre to the UN building bombing in Abuja, and the Yelwata killings in Benue, the cases span years, geography, and unimaginable grief.
Let’s break it down.
Owo Church Attack: Justice Inches Forward
The name St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, still brings a chill. Over 40 people were killed there in the 2022 attack. Another 100+. Injured, scarred, forever changed.
Now, five suspects—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—are finally in court.
They’ve been arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge. Prosecutors say they were operating under the Al Shabab cell in Kogi, pushing extremist beliefs that led to one of the darkest Sundays in recent history.
Their bail request? Denied. The court said the charges were too grave. Too close to capital offences. The evidence? Strong, according to Justice Emeka Nwite.
The UN Bombing Case: Still Waiting for Closure
Fourteen years ago—August 26, 2011—a car bomb exploded at the United Nations building in Abuja. 20 people died. More than 70 were badly injured.
The alleged ring leader? Khalid Al‑Barnawi, a known figure in Nigeria’s terror landscape. Captured in 2016, he’s standing trial with four others: Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (aka Datti), Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu.
It’s been a long, drawn-out process. Delays. No-show legal counsel. Procedural roadblocks. Yet, this month, Justice Nwite agreed to accelerate hearings. In October, the court even watched video confessions as part of a trial-within-trial process.
It’s far from over. But it’s moving.
The ANSARU Duo: Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda Footprint
Remember the names Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba. The DSS does.
Captured after a months-long, intelligence-led operation, they’re believed to be leading members of ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate. Usman, allegedly the “Emir” of the group, was reportedly running sleeper cells and kidnapping-for-ransom operations—funding terror in the process.
Abba? Said to have run the Mahmudawa cell near Kainji National Park, straddling Niger, Kwara, and even into Benin Republic. Not just local terror—this was international.
They were arraigned on a 32-count charge. One interesting count stood out: illegal mining—which Usman actually pleaded guilty to and got 15 years.
The rest? He and Abba both pleaded not guilty. Trials continue November 19.
Pain in Benue – Yelwata Massacre
It happened June 13, 2025. Villages in Guma LGA, Benue, were hit. Dozens were murdered. 107 people injured. It felt like war.
President Tinubu visited. Promised justice.
By the end of June, 26 suspects arrested. Later, nine were charged by DSS with terrorism before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The accused include Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi—still at large—and seven others still being tried.
And it didn’t stop there.
Two young men from the same area—Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede—are also being tried. Not for the original attack but for allegedly retaliating against suspected attackers. They pleaded not guilty.
So yes—the crisis planted pain on both sides of the community. And now, the courts are sorting it out.
The DSS Responds
Tosin Ajayi, Director-General of the DSS, said this is more than paperwork and court hearings. It’s a real plan to bring accountability to those who cause chaos.
“These trials show we are not sleeping,” he stated. “Some of these are separate from hundreds of suspects still in military custody. Last year, 125 people were convicted already. And we are just getting started.”
Ajayi added that the service will “continue to pursue those threatening Nigeria’s peace and make them answerable under law.”
Strong promise. Long road ahead.
