Owo Church Massacre: DSS Witness Identifies 2 Suspects As ‘Attackers’

The second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of being behind the June 5, 2022 attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State, on Tuesday, identified two of the defendants as those who took part in the attack.

The witness, who said he is a member of the church and was present on that day, gave details of how the attack took place and the extent of damages recorded both to worshipers and the church building.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) over the attack at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), the second prosecution witness (PW2), whose identify was protected, identified Qasim Idris (second defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (fourth defendant) as those he saw among the attackers.

The witness, who was labelled SSB, said the attack took place on Sunday when the church was about rounding off the mass held in commemoration of the Feast of the Pentecost.

He said, “We were having our normal mass in the church, just about the time the church was closing, we heard a gunshots outside the church compound. So, we were wondering what was happening.

“We heard another gunshot at the gate, then there was pandemonium in the church. Everybody was running helter skelter and asking what was happening.

“Then we started hearing sporadic shooting inside the church compound. Then, one of the MOD (Men of Order and Defence) of the church ran towards the church and shouted, ‘lock the door, lock the door.’ Then, those by the door tried to lock the door.

“Then, we heard some sound at the door. And then, we started hearing footsteps of people running towards the other entrance of the church. They were shooting as well.

“In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, up and down, then he used his hand to beckon on someone behind him to come forward,” the witness said.

Further hearing in the case will continue on January 14, at 12noon.