Victims identify alleged Owo church attackers in court

Two more prosecution witnesses on Tuesday gave vivid and harrowing accounts of 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.

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 counts, bordering on terrorism. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The June 2022 attack occurred during a Sunday Mass marking the Feast of Pentecost. Gunmen stormed the church, locking the main entrance before opening fire on worshippers and detonating explosives.

The coordinated assault claimed at least 41 lives and left over 100 injured, leaving a deep scar on the Owo community.

During Tuesday’s hearing, a male witness identified only as SSB recounted in detail how the attack unfolded. Under cross-examination by DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), the witness said the gunmen forced their way into the church through a secondary entrance after worshippers tried to secure the main door.

“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.

Initially, he identified the fifth defendant, Momoh Abubakar, but later corrected himself to point out the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, after the defendant removed his face mask and moved closer.

SSB also identified Abdulhaleem Idris as the fourth defendant — the man carrying a bag when the attackers were preparing to leave.

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He described hearing multiple explosions while the assailants fired indiscriminately at worshippers.

“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 said.

A second witness, a female referred to as SSC, told the court she survived the attack but sustained permanent injuries to her left leg.

She recalled the terrifying moment a gunman dropped dynamite near her while demanding, “Do you know why we are doing this?”

She also recounted seeing the body of her two-year-old cousin, whose mother could not identify her at the hospital due to severe injuries and dust from the explosion.

SSC showed her operated leg in court, noting that it had undergone four surgeries and still contained metal fixtures.

Both witnesses confirmed that they had made statements to the DSS at its Akure office on May 26, 2024.

Their extra-judicial statements were formally admitted into evidence as Exhibits B and C without objection from the defense.

The Federal High Court has so far 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.

In his remarks, DSS counsel, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), said the prosecution intends to call seven more witnesses, with two scheduled to testify at the next hearing. The witnesses are expected to provide further insights into the planning, execution, and aftermath of the attack.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to January 14, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.

The Owo church attack remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist incidents targeting civilians in a place of worship. Investigators and security agencies have been painstakingly compiling evidence to ensure accountability, while the trial serves as a critical step toward justice for victims and their families.

The case highlights ongoing security challenges in the country, particularly the vulnerability of religious gatherings to targeted violence, and underscores the role of the DSS in counter-terrorism investigations and prosecution.