The trial of five men accused of carrying out the deadly terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, has taken a significant turn as a prosecution witness directly identified two of the defendants as active participants in the massacre.
Chilling Testimonies in Court
The proceedings, which continued recently, heard harrowing accounts from survivors of the June 5, 2022 assault. A witness, whose identity was protected and labelled as SSB, was led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer Adedayo Adedipe (SAN).
The witness pointed out Al Qasim Idris, the second defendant, and Abdulhaleem Idris, the fourth defendant, as individuals he saw among the attackers. He recounted that the attack occurred during a mass held in commemoration of the Feast of Pentecost.
Eyewitness Account of the Attack
The witness described the terrifying moments when the assault began. "We were having our normal mass in the church," he explained. "Just about the time the church was closing, we heard a gunshot outside the church compound. We heard another gunshot at the gate, then there was pandemonium in the church. Everybody was running helter-skelter."
He detailed that sporadic shooting followed inside the compound and that explosives were later detonated. The witness stated he saw one attacker beckoning another forward, identifying him as the second defendant, Qasim Idris. He further testified that the fourth defendant, Abdulhaleem Idris, was the one carrying a bag as the attackers were preparing to leave the church premises.
The witness confirmed to the court that more than 40 people were killed while many others sustained injuries, and that he had previously given a statement to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Akure.
Survivor Recounts Injuries and Loss
A third prosecution witness, a female identified as SSC, also gave a gripping account of the attack. She stated she was in the church when gunshots rang out and described sustaining severe injuries to her left leg after a dynamite exploded beside her.
"I was confused and did not know what was happening until an old woman sitting beside me was killed," she told the court. She was helped to the altar and lay on the floor for safety.
The witness revealed the extent of her injuries, stating her leg had been operated on four times, required skin grafts, and still has an iron implant inside. She also shared the personal tragedy of losing her two-year-old younger cousin in the attack.
She confirmed that 41 people died instantly while over 100 others were injured, a figure she obtained from an obituary magazine printed on the day of the victims' burial.
The five defendants being prosecuted by the DSS are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has ordered their remand. The matter has been adjourned for continuation of trial.
