Owo Church Attack: Witnesses Give Harrowing Accounts As DSS Presents Additional Evidence
Two prosecution witnesses on Tuesday delivered harrowing testimonies about the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, as the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted additional exhibits from the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS is prosecuting five suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — on amended nine-count charges related to terrorism. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty. The attack occurred during a Sunday Mass marking the Feast of Pentecost. Gunmen reportedly stormed the church, locking the main entrance before opening fire on worshippers and detonating explosives. At least 41 people were killed and over 100 injured, leaving a lasting impact on the Owo community. During Tuesday’s hearing, a male witness identified as SSB described the chaos in vivid detail. Under cross-examination by DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), he explained that after worshippers attempted to secure the main door, the attackers forced entry through a secondary entrance. “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, then beckoned to someone behind him,” SSB told the court. SSB initially misidentified one of the defendants but later correctly identified Al Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris as two of the attackers, noting that Abdulhaleem carried a bag as they prepared to leave. He described hearing multiple explosions and seeing worshippers shot indiscriminately. “I fell on my face in fear. After the attackers left, I saw two dead bodies outside the church. More than 40 worshippers were killed while many others were injured,” he recounted. A second witness, a female referred to as SSC, told the court she survived but suffered permanent injuries to her left leg. She described a gunman dropping dynamite near her while asking, “Do you know why we are doing this?” She also recounted seeing her two-year-old cousin’s body, whose mother could not identify her due to severe injuries and debris from the explosion. SSC showed the court her operated leg, which has undergone four surgeries and still contains metal fixtures. Both witnesses confirmed that they had given statements to the DSS at its Akure office on May 26, 2024. Their extra-judicial statements were admitted into evidence as Exhibits B and C without objection from the defense. The Federal High Court has been hearing the trial in multiple sessions, with the prosecution presenting detailed evidence, including witness testimonies and material exhibits, to establish the identities of the perpetrators and the sequence of the attack. DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN) said the prosecution plans to call seven more witnesses, with two expected at the next hearing, to provide further insights into the planning, execution, and aftermath of the attack. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to January 14, 2026, for continuation. The Owo church attack remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist assaults on civilians in a place of worship. The trial is a critical step toward accountability for the victims and highlights ongoing security challenges, particularly the vulnerability of religious gatherings, and the role of the DSS in counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions.
