In a chilling courtroom session at the Federal High Court in Abuja, survivors of the devastating attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, recounted their traumatic experiences. The hearing on Tuesday saw two more witnesses testify against five men accused of orchestrating the June 5, 2022, assault that left dozens dead during a Pentecost Sunday service.
"The Explosive Detonated Beside My Head": A Survivor's Ordeal
Testifying under the pseudonym SSC, a student from Achara in Anambra State, gave a harrowing account as the third prosecution witness before Justice Emeka Nwite. She stated that the service had begun around 8:00 a.m. when chaos erupted. Her first realization of the attack came when an elderly woman seated next to her was shot dead.
Amid the panic, a man pulled her from her seat and rushed her toward the altar. There, she met her brother, Chinedu Ojukwu, who helped her lie face-down on the floor for safety. The gunmen later mounted the altar, questioning those hiding about their motives for the attack.
"When I briefly looked up, one of the attackers accused me of seeing his face, threatened me with death, and dropped an explosive device close to my head," SSC told the court. With her brother's help, she managed to move slightly, but the device detonated, severely injuring her left leg.
The witness revealed the lasting impact of her injuries: she underwent four surgeries, including skin grafting, and now walks with an iron implant in her leg. She continues to receive medical treatment. In a heartbreaking detail, she described seeing the lifeless body of her two-year-old cousin outside the church, shot in the back of the head. She later learned from an obituary magazine that 41 worshippers died in the attack.
Eyewitness Identifies Defendants in Dramatic Court Moment
The second prosecution witness, PW2, identified as SSB, is a retired security officer and resident of Owo. He told the court that gunshots were first heard outside the church compound before sporadic shooting began inside, throwing the congregation into panic.
Security personnel shouted for the church doors to be locked as bullets struck the entrance. PW2 testified that he saw an armed man enter and beckon another assailant to join him. One attacker fired toward the choir gallery while another shot at worshippers near the lectors' stand.
Following several explosions, he lay face down in fear. When the shooting stopped, he raised his head and saw three assailants inspecting the church, apparently to confirm everyone was dead, before signaling each other to leave.
In a dramatic moment, PW2 was asked to identify the gunman he saw. He initially pointed at the fifth defendant but, after taking a closer look as directed by the court, identified the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, 20, as the person he saw during the attack. He also identified the fourth defendant, Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, as one of the assailants who carried a bag.
The defence counsel objected to this change in identification, but the prosecution countered that the witness needed a closer look because one defendant had been wearing a face mask in court. Justice Nwite ruled that identification issues should be tested during cross-examination.
The Aftermath and Path to Justice
PW2 further testified about the horrific aftermath. After escaping through a window, he saw the body of a woman beside a vehicle and a man near the church fence. He confirmed that more than 40 people were killed, overwhelming the local hospital with casualties, including victims who suffered amputations.
Returning to the church the next day, he observed extensive damage and bloodstains on the floor and surrounding areas. Both witnesses had their statements, made to the State Security Service (SSS) in 2024, admitted as evidence.
The five defendants being prosecuted by the DSS on a nine-count amended charge bordering on terrorism are:
- Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25
- Al Qasim Idris, 20
- Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26
- Abdulhaleem Idris, 25
- Momoh Otubo Abubakar, 47
The DSS has listed 10 witnesses to prove its case in the Owo Church attack trial. Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
