Security
DSS Seeks Death Penalty for Owo Church Attack Suspects
DSS asks a Federal High Court to sentence five suspects to death over the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church attack in Owo
The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death penalty on five men standing trial over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
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Counsel to the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), made the request on Tuesday while presenting the agency’s final written address before Justice Emeka Nwite.
Adedipe urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment allowed by law, arguing that the severity of the alleged offences warranted the highest sentence.
The five defendants, Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Abubakar, are facing a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism.
In response, defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad asked the court to discharge and acquit his clients, contending that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.
After listening to the final submissions from both parties, Justice Nwite reserved judgment and said a date for delivery would be communicated to the prosecution and defence.
The judge indicated that parties would receive official notice once the judgment was ready, suggesting that notification could come within 24 hours.
The trial began on August 1, 2025, after the DSS secured an accelerated hearing of the case.
During the proceedings, the prosecution called 11 witnesses in an effort to prove the allegations against the defendants.
The court also admitted confessional statements attributed to the accused persons following a trial-within-trial conducted to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily.
The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo left 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured, making it one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent Nigerian history.
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Judgment is now awaited on the terrorism charges brought against the five defendants.
The Nigerian Army is sending 600 soldiers to India for specialised jungle and mountain warfare training to improve combat readiness
The Nigerian Army has commenced the deployment of 600 personnel to India for specialised jungle and mountain warfare training aimed at improving troops’ combat readiness and ability to operate in difficult terrain.
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The first batch of 300 soldiers departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft, a C-17 and an Airbus A321.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, announced the deployment in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the training is intended to enhance troops’ operational effectiveness in challenging environments and strengthen the Army’s capacity to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“The training underscores the COAS’s commitment to building a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force capable of confronting terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in forests, mountainous areas and other challenging environments,” the statement said.
The statement said the deployment was initiated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, as part of efforts to improve personnel development, realistic training and operational effectiveness.
It added that the programme aligned with Shaibu’s command philosophy, which prioritises combat readiness and the development of a resilient, mission-ready force.
The Coordinator of the Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team at Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training, Major General UG Yusuf, represented the Army chief at the departure ceremony.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria also witnessed the departure.
The Army said arrangements were underway to transport the remaining 300 personnel to India to complete the planned deployment.
The specialised training is expected to strengthen the soldiers’ ability to operate in forests, mountainous regions and other difficult environments where conventional military operations can pose additional challenges.
The initiative is also expected to reinforce defence cooperation between Nigeria and India.
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The Army said the deployment reflected its commitment to developing personnel capable of responding to security threats while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and protecting lives and property.
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