Survivors of the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on Tuesday relived their traumatic experiences as the Department of State Services (DSS) presented additional evidence against five suspects at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The attack, which took place during a Sunday Mass marking the Feast of Pentecost, is regarded as one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria.
The DSS is prosecuting five defendants—Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47)—on an amended nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, and acts intended to cause mass casualties. All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty.
During the resumed hearing, the prosecution called two additional witnesses who gave emotional testimonies describing how the attack unfolded and its devastating consequences.
One of the witnesses, a man identified only as SSB, told the court that the attackers gained entry through a secondary entrance after worshippers tried to secure the main door. He said he saw an armed man signal to others moments before gunshots and explosions erupted inside the church.
SSB identified some of the suspects in court, including Al Qasim Idris and Abdulhaleem Idris, whom he described as being present during the attack and the subsequent escape. He told the court that many worshippers were trapped inside the church and that dozens lost their lives, while many others sustained injuries.
Another witness, a woman identified as SSC, recounted how she survived the attack but suffered lasting injuries. She told the court that an explosive device was thrown near her during the incident, leading to serious harm. She also spoke emotionally about losing her two-year-old cousin, whom she later saw lifeless at the hospital.
To demonstrate the lasting impact of the attack, SSC showed the court injuries she sustained, explaining that she had undergone multiple surgeries and still required medical implants.
Both witnesses confirmed that they made extra-judicial statements to the DSS at its Akure office on May 26, 2024. The statements were tendered in court and admitted as evidence without objection from the defence.
DSS counsel, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution plans to call seven more witnesses to further establish the planning, execution, and aftermath of the attack. Two of the witnesses are expected to testify at the next hearing.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
