A witness for the Federal Government in the ongoing trial of suspects linked to the mass shooting and bombing at a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he sought shelter in the church restroom as the attack unfolded.
The first prosecution witness, identified by the pseudonym SSA and a resident of Akure, recounted before Justice Emeka Nwite that he and several children hid helplessly in the restroom while the first three explosions occurred.
SSA explained that on June 5, 2022, he was presiding over Mass. During the final rites, as the congregation sang the recessional hymn, a loud noise was heard.
At first, he thought someone had fallen, but he soon saw two community members quickly lock the main entrance.
An elder informed him that the church was under attack, and at that moment, gunshots could be heard outside.
SSA said he initially considered fleeing but refrained due to the children present, instead helping to move them to the only available place of safety—the restroom—where gunfire continued around them.
He recalled that after two explosions, a third detonated extremely close to where they were hiding, with a force that felt as though the ground would open beneath them.
Once informed that the attackers had left, he emerged to find numerous casualties and immediately called for them to be taken to the hospital. Ambulances later arrived to evacuate other victims.
During cross-examination, SSA said he could not specify the number of attackers, explaining, “The one struck by a vehicle doesn’t wait to take note of the vehicle’s number.” His focus had been entirely on rescuing the children, preventing him from identifying or counting the assailants.
The court adjourned the trial to January 13 and 14, 2026. Earlier, prosecution counsel Adedayo Adedipe, SAN, took over from Callistus Eze as lead counsel, and the court read out the amended nine-count charge to the suspects, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
The June 5, 2022 attack on the Catholic church in Owo claimed around 40 lives, with estimates reaching as high as 80.
In response, the Federal Government launched investigations that led to the arrest of five suspects allegedly affiliated with the Al Shabab Terrorist Group: Idris Abdumalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Isris (20), Jamiu Abdumalik (26), Anduhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).