One of the survivors of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on Tuesday identified two of the five defendants standing trial as participants in the deadly assault.
The survivor, a member of the church and a witness for the Department of State Services (DSS), identified in court as “SSB” for security reasons, gave his testimony before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. He was led in evidence by DSS counsel, Adedayo Adedipe, SAN.
The DSS is prosecuting five suspects over the attack: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), who are listed as first to fifth defendants respectively.
SSB, the second prosecution witness (PW-2), told the court that he was present in the church on the day of the attack, which occurred during the closing moments of a Pentecost Sunday Mass. He recounted how gunshots were first heard outside the church premises before the attackers moved into the compound, causing panic among worshippers.
According to the witness, sporadic gunfire followed, forcing members of the congregation to attempt to lock the main entrance. He said the attackers later gained access through another entrance, firing at worshippers and throwing explosive devices into the church.
“In a matter of seconds, I saw a man holding a gun. He looked around the church and beckoned on someone behind him to come forward,” the witness said.
When asked if he could identify any of the attackers among the defendants, the witness initially pointed to the fifth defendant but later corrected himself after the defendant removed his face mask and moved closer to the dock, identifying the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, as the gunman who beckoned on another attacker.
Defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, objected to the change in identification, arguing that the witness had already made a clear identification. However, Justice Nwite overruled the objection, stating that the credibility of the testimony could be tested during cross-examination.
The witness also identified the fourth defendant, Abdulhaleem Idris, as one of the attackers, saying he carried a bag while the assailants were leaving the church after the attack. He added that multiple explosives were detonated during the incident, after which the attackers fled.
SSB told the court that more than 40 people were killed in the attack, with many others sustaining serious injuries. He described scenes of devastation inside the church, noting that the building was heavily damaged and stained with blood.
He further stated that he later made a statement to the DSS at its Akure office during the investigation, which was admitted as evidence by the court.
The DSS also presented its third prosecution witness (PW-3), a female survivor identified as “SSC,” who narrated how she sustained severe injuries to her left leg during the attack. She told the court that she was injured when an explosive device was dropped beside her near the altar.
SSC said she underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafting, and currently has metal implants in her injured leg. She added that she is still receiving medical treatment.
The witness emotionally recounted seeing her two-year-old cousin dead at the scene and said that 41 people died instantly, while over 100 others were injured in the attack. Under cross-examination, she said the figure of those killed was obtained from an obituary publication issued during the victims’ burial.
After the conclusion of testimonies from the two witnesses, Justice Nwite adjourned the case until January 14, at noon, for continuation of trial.
Owo Church Attack: Survivor Identifies Two Defendants as Participants in 2022 Terror Assault
