Church Official Opposes Bail for Suspects in 2022 Pentecost Sunday Attack

A senior Catholic Church official in Nigeria has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to ensure justice in the trial of suspects linked to the 2022 Pentecost Sunday attack that killed at least 50 people at a Catholic church.

Father Solomon Zaku, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Nigeria, spoke after five suspects were arraigned by the Federal High Court in Abuja. He warned against granting bail to the accused, saying such a move would “deepen the pain of victims’ families and weaken confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.”

The attack occurred at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish in Owo, Ondo State, on Pentecost Sunday in June 2022. Gunmen opened fire on worshippers during mass and detonated explosives, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens more.

Five men suspected of carrying out the attack were remanded in custody on Tuesday, 19 August, until a court ruling on their bail application scheduled for 10 September. The suspects pleaded not guilty when they were first arraigned last week.

The men appeared in court seeking bail three years after their arrest. Their trial began this week amid calls from church leaders for the government to ensure justice is served.

Father Zaku described the Owo attack as a shocking extension of terrorism to the southern part of Nigeria, which had previously been less affected by militant violence compared to the northern regions.

The attack was one of the deadliest on a Christian place of worship in Nigeria in recent years. It sparked widespread condemnation from religious leaders and international organisations, including the United Nations.

Nigeria has faced ongoing security challenges from various militant groups, with attacks on religious and civilian targets occurring regularly across different parts of the country. The trial of the Owo attack suspects is being closely watched as a test of the government’s commitment to bringing perpetrators of such attacks to justice.