Terrorists who attacked Owo, Ondo State linked to Al Shabaab in Somalia

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

The Department of State Services (DSS) said that terrorists who attacked Owo, the ancient town in Ondo state are linked to Al Shabaab, the global terror group based in Somalia.

This appears to be a strong indication that Al Shabaab is operating in Yorubaland.

Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujāhideen is the full name but also known as al-Shabaab or the Islamic Emirate of Somalia.

The group is an extremist Sunni Islamist militant and political group based in Somalia and currently engaged in the Somali Civil War.

The group is also linked to al-Qaeda.

The June 2022 attacked led to the death of 40 people.

The DSS opposed their bail application. It asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to deny bail to five the men facing trial over their alleged role in the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which claimed about 40 lives and left over 100 worshippers injured.
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — were arraigned on August 11 on nine counts of terrorism marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025.
In a counter-affidavit opposing their bail application, the DSS alleged that the men had links to foreign terrorist fighters associated with the Al-Shabab group and posed a flight risk if released.
It argued: “There is a very high likelihood of defendants evading trial in view of their connection to foreign fighters linked to Al-Shabab terrorist group. The defendants’ accomplices are still at large and have been making frantic efforts to monitor their trial, intimidate witnesses and free the defendants from lawful custody.”
The service further disclosed that it was “currently investigating the leads with a view to apprehending those individuals, planning to intimidate witnesses and compromise the trial in the interest of the applicants.”
According to the DSS, witnesses have expressed fear for their safety. “The prosecution witnesses have expressed fears of attacks by defendants’ cohorts and have stated that they will not attend court sessions except their fears are allayed.”
It added: “This necessitated the filing of an ex parte application for witness protection.”
“The prosecution has demonstrated readiness for a speedy trial of the substantive charge.”
“The defendants have not presented any evidence to show that they have credible sureties.”
“It will not be in the interest of justice and security of prosecution witnesses to grant the application for bail,” the DSS said.
Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, urged the court to grant bail, arguing that his clients had been in detention since their arrest in 2022. He maintained that they were prepared to provide credible sureties to demonstrate their commitment to standing trial.
Prosecuting lawyer, Dr. Calistus Eze, opposed the application, describing it as unmeritorious. He told the court that threats to prosecution witnesses were ongoing and known to the defence.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the ruling on the bail application to September 10.
Earlier in the proceedings, Eze informed the court that although the matter was slated for the prosecution to open its case, it could not proceed because the DSS had appointed a senior lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), to lead the team. He requested an adjournment to allow time for the necessary fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation’s office.
The defence did not object to the adjournment or to another application by the prosecution seeking the protection of witnesses’ identities.
In its application, the prosecution prayed for orders shielding witnesses’ personal details, allowing them to testify hooded and veiled, and barring the mention of their real names in court records accessible to the public. It also requested that witnesses be identified only with coded alphabets.
Justice Nwite granted the application.