Abuja: Five men accused of carrying out the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, were arraigned on terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. The suspects, identified as Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors allege that the men were members of an Al-Shabaab cell operating from Kogi State and had joined the extremist group in 2021. They are accused of plotting and executing multiple attacks, including the June 5, 2022, massacre at the Owo church, which left over 40 worshippers dead and more than 100 injured during Pentecost Mass. The prosecution further claims the group was involved in other planned assaults near a mosque and a public school within 30 kilometers of the church.

Although Nigerian authorities have linked the suspects to Al-Shabaab, the group’s presence in Nigeria remains unverified, and neither Al-Shabaab nor the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), previously suspected in the attack, has claimed responsibility.

The accused have been in custody since their arrest in 2022. Prosecutors told the court that access to the suspects by their lawyers or families would require a formal written request, while the defense urged for greater access for legal representation.

Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the men to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services and adjourned the case until August 19, when the trial will begin. The proceedings are being closely watched as a test of Nigeria’s ability to prosecute terrorism cases amid ongoing insecurity in various parts of the country.

The Owo massacre remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on civilians during worship, with the assailants reportedly using explosives and firearms against the congregation. The trial is expected to reveal more details about the planning and execution of the attack, as well as the alleged extremist networks behind it.