Two prosecution witnesses on Tuesday gave harrowing accounts of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, as the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted new 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 nine amended counts of terrorism. All defendants pleaded not guilty.
The attack, which took place during Sunday Mass on Pentecost, saw gunmen storm the church, lock the main entrance, open fire on worshippers, and detonate explosives. At least 41 people were killed and more than 100 injured.
A male witness, identified as SSB, recounted how the attackers forced their way in through a side entrance. “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, then beckoned to someone behind him,” he told the court. He later identified Al Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris among the assailants, describing explosions and indiscriminate gunfire. “I fell on my face in fear… More than 40 worshippers were killed while many others were injured,” he said.
A female witness, SSC, testified that she survived but suffered permanent injuries to her leg. She recalled a gunman dropping dynamite near her and asking, “Do you know why we are doing this?” She also described seeing the body of her two-year-old cousin, who could not be identified by her mother due to severe injuries. SSC showed the court her operated leg, which has undergone four surgeries and still contains metal fixtures.
Both witnesses confirmed they had given statements to the DSS in May 2024, which were admitted as Exhibits B and C.
DSS counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN) said the prosecution plans to call seven more witnesses, with two scheduled for the next hearing. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned proceedings to January 14, 2026.
The Owo church massacre remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on worshippers. The trial is seen as a crucial step toward justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, while highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of religious gatherings to extremist violence.
