Two additional witnesses on Tuesday testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the ongoing trial of five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The witnesses, presented by the Department of State Services also tendered additional documentary exhibits, which were admitted by the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, without objection from the defence.
The five defendants—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—are facing a nine-count amended charge bordering on terrorism and related offences. All had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the hearing, the prosecution witnesses, identified in court as SSB and SSC for security reasons, narrated how armed attackers invaded the church during Sunday Mass.
One of the witnesses, a female student from Anambra State, told the court that the assailants forced their way into the church, shut the main entrance and began shooting at worshippers.
“They came in force, locked the door and started shooting, including at people in the choir section,” she said.
She further testified that an explosive device was placed close to her during the attack, explaining that she narrowly escaped further injury before it detonated.
With the court’s permission, the witness showed her injured leg, telling the judge that she had undergone multiple surgeries since the incident. “I have had four surgeries, and there are still metal implants in my leg,” she said.
The witness also recounted that a young relative was fatally shot during the incident. “The child was shot from behind and died instantly,” she told the court.
The second witness corroborated her testimony, stating that dozens of worshippers lost their lives in the attack. According to him, “After the attackers left, about 40 bodies were counted at the scene,” adding that explosive devices were detonated multiple times, causing serious damage to the church building.
Both witnesses confirmed that they were later invited by the DSS to its Akure office, where they voluntarily gave their statements in May 2024. Their statements were admitted as exhibits following the defence’s decision not to object.
At the close of proceedings, lead counsel for the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution planned to call seven more witnesses. He noted, however, that only two witnesses would be presented at the next sitting.
Counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Auwal Mohammed, represented all five accused persons.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case until January 14 for continuation of the trial.
The court also recalled that a Catholic priest, earlier identified as SSA, had testified as the first prosecution witness in December 2025.
