The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday commenced its case against five men accused of perpetrating the deadly June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers.
The suspects – Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al-Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) – were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on terrorism charges.
The prosecution, led by Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), called its first witness, a Catholic priest who was presiding over the Pentecost Sunday mass when the attack occurred. The court granted an application to withhold the priest’s identity for security reasons.
Led in evidence, the cleric gave a harrowing account of the incident, describing how the armed men struck as the service was concluding.
He recounted the chilling sequence of events: “As the service was ending and the recessional hymn began, I heard a loud sound. Then I saw commotion in the church. Soon after, two men from our congregation locked the main entrance and an elder told me, ‘Father, we are under attack.’”
NAIJAONPOINT detailed the intensity of the assault, confirming that the attack began with a loud explosion followed by sporadic gunshots.
The priest told the court that at least three explosives were used by the attackers, noting that one landed alarmingly close to the safe room where he and several children had taken refuge.
He narrated the chaos, adding that he assisted in evacuating injured worshippers, including his choir master who had been shot in the chest.
Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, NAIJAONPOINT , however, maintained that he was unable to recognise or identify the assailants due to the confusion and his focus on saving lives.
He added that his priority was “rescuing children and moving casualties to the hospital.”
Asked if he knew the number of attackers, NAIJAONPOINT responded, “The one struck by a vehicle doesn’t wait to take note of the vehicle’s number.”
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the charge sheet had been amended to correct minor errors, after which the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the revised charges.
Justice Nwite granted an application for an accelerated hearing and subsequently adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
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