Two prosecution witnesses on Tuesday gave chilling 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 more evidence 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 nine amended terrorism-related charges. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The attack occurred during a Sunday Mass celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, when gunmen stormed the church, locked the main entrance, opened fire on worshippers, and detonated explosives. At least 41 people were killed and more than 100 injured, leaving deep scars on the Owo community.
A male witness identified only as SSB recounted the terrifying events in detail. Under cross-examination by DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), he said the attackers forced entry through a secondary door after worshippers tried to secure the main 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. He initially misidentified one defendant but later correctly identified Al Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris, noting the latter carried a bag as the attackers prepared to leave. SSB also described hearing multiple explosions and seeing victims 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 said.
A female witness, SSC, described surviving the attack but sustaining permanent injuries to her left leg. She recalled a gunman dropping dynamite near her while asking, “Do you know why we are doing this?” SSC 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. She showed the court her leg, which has undergone four surgeries and still contains metal fixtures.
Both witnesses confirmed they had given statements to the DSS at its Akure office on May 26, 2024. Their extra-judicial statements were admitted as Exhibits B and C without objection from the defense.
The prosecution has been presenting detailed evidence, including witness testimonies and material exhibits, to establish the identities of the attackers and the sequence of events. DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN) said seven more witnesses are expected to testify, with two scheduled for the next session, to shed further light on 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 incidents targeting civilians in a place of worship. The trial underscores the country’s ongoing security challenges, the vulnerability of religious gatherings, and the DSS’s role in counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions.
