Owo Church: Survivor Identities 2 Suspects as Trial Continues

By Correspondent in Abuja.

One of the victims of the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on Tuesday identified two of the five defendants as participants in the attack.

The victim, a Department of State Services (DSS) witness identified only as “SSB” for security reasons, testified before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. He was led in evidence by DSS counsel, Adedayo Adedipe, SAN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) as first to fifth defendants respectively, over alleged terrorism-related offences.

SSB, the second prosecution witness (PW-2), told the court that he is a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and was present during the attack. He gave a detailed account of how the incident unfolded and the damage done to worshippers and the church building.

When asked if he could recognise any of the attackers among the defendants in the dock, the witness answered in the affirmative. He subsequently identified Al Qasim Idris (2nd defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (4th defendant) as among those he saw during the attack.

According to him, the incident occurred on a Sunday, just as the church was rounding off Mass to commemorate the Feast of Pentecost.

“We were having our normal Mass when we heard a gunshot outside the church compound. Shortly after, there was another gunshot at the gate, and pandemonium broke out. People began running in different directions as sporadic shooting continued,” he said.

He recounted that a member of the church’s security team shouted for the doors to be locked, but the attackers forced their way in through another entrance.

“Within seconds, I saw a man holding a gun. He looked around the church and beckoned on someone behind him to come forward,” the witness testified.

Initially, PW-2 pointed to the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, as the armed man. However, after the defendant was asked to remove his face mask and move closer to the dock, the witness corrected himself and identified Al Qasim Idris (2nd defendant) as the person he saw.

Defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, objected to the change, arguing that the witness could not alter his identification without stating he had sight problems. Justice Nwite overruled the objection, ruling that the defence could address the issue during cross-examination.

Continuing his testimony, the witness further identified Abdulhaleem Idris (4th defendant) as one of the attackers, saying he was the person carrying a bag as the assailants prepared to leave the church.

PW-2 narrated that multiple explosives were detonated during the attack, causing widespread panic and casualties. He said that after the attackers left, he escaped through a window and later saw the bodies of victims outside the church premises.

According to him, more than 40 people were killed, while many others sustained injuries.

“When I returned from the hospital later that day, the hospital was filled with victims of the attack. When I visited the church the next day, it was badly damaged, and there was blood everywhere,” he said.

The witness also confirmed that he made a statement to the DSS at its Akure office during the investigation. The statement was admitted in evidence by the court.

Under cross-examination, PW-2 told the court that the first prosecution witness was the priest who officiated at the Mass on the day of the attack. He added that only the main entrance of the church was locked, while the attackers gained access through another door near the choir stand.

The DSS also called its third prosecution witness (PW-3), a female identified as “SSC.” She told the court how she sustained injuries to her left leg while escaping during the attack.

SSC said confusion initially gripped her when the shooting began, adding that she was helped to the altar area by fellow worshippers. She testified that an attacker dropped an explosive near her, which later detonated and injured her leg.

She displayed her injured leg to the court and said it had undergone multiple surgeries, including skin grafting, with metal implants still in place. She added that she remains on medication.

The witness said she lost a two-year-old cousin in the attack and later made a statement to the DSS on May 26, 2024. According to her, 41 people died instantly, while over 100 others were injured.

Under cross-examination, she said the figure of those killed was obtained from an obituary brochure produced during the burial of the victims.

After the conclusion of her testimony, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to January 14 at 12 noon for continuation of trial.