DSS begins trial of suspected church attackers, presents Catholic priest as witness

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday opened its trial against five individuals accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, where more than 40 worshippers were killed and over 100 others sustained injuries.

The accused persons — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al-Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

To begin its case, the prosecution called its first witness, a Catholic priest who conducted the Pentecost Sunday mass on the day of the tragedy. His name was withheld for security reasons.

During his testimony, led by prosecuting counsel Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the priest narrated how armed assailants stormed the church near the end of the service.

He told the court that a sudden explosion disrupted the recessional hymn, plunging the congregation into panic.

“As the service was ending and the recessional hymn began, I heard a loud sound. Then I saw commotion in the church. Soon after, two men from our congregation locked the main entrance and an elder told me, ‘Father, we are under attack,’” he said.

According to the witness, the assault involved at least three explosive devices, one of which landed close to the safe room where he and several children had taken shelter.

He recounted assisting victims, including his choir master who sustained a chest gunshot wound, as he tried to move the injured to safety.

The priest told the court he could not ascertain the number of attackers due to the confusion inside the church, noting that his focus was on rescuing children and getting casualties to the hospital.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad, he insisted he was unable to identify any of the perpetrators.

Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution announced that the charge sheet had been amended to correct minor errors. The revised counts were read to the defendants, who all maintained their plea of not guilty.

Justice Nwite approved the request for an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to January 13 and 14, 2026, for further proceedings.