Two prosecution witnesses on Tuesday identified alleged perpetrators of the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as additional exhibits tendered by the Department of State Services were admitted in evidence.
The DSS is prosecuting five suspects — Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — on amended nine-count terrorism charges, to which all the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The attack occurred during a Sunday Mass celebrating Pentecost, when gunmen reportedly locked the church’s main entrance, opened fire on worshippers and detonated explosives, killing at least 41 people and injuring over 100.
One of the witnesses, identified as SSB, narrated how the assailants entered through a secondary door and began shooting, telling the court, “In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, then beckoned to someone behind him.”
He later identified the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, after initially mistaking him for another suspect, and also pointed out Abdulhaleem Idris as the man carrying a bag while the attackers were leaving, adding, “I fell on my face in fear. After the attackers left, I saw two dead bodies outside the church. More than 40 worshippers were killed while many others were injured.”
Another witness, SSC, who sustained permanent injuries to her left leg, recalled a gunman dropping dynamite near her while asking, “Do you know why we are doing this?”
Both witnesses confirmed making statements to the DSS, which were admitted as exhibits, as Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, with the prosecution indicating plans to call more witnesses.