Olayiwola Matthew
A Department of State Services (DSS) witness on Tuesday identified two of the five defendants standing trial over the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, as active participants in the massacre.
Testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2) under protective anonymity, the church member told the court that he saw Al Qasim Idris (2nd defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (4th defendant) among the armed men who carried out the attack during the Pentecost Sunday Mass.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), PW2 narrated how the assailants stormed the church near the end of the service, firing indiscriminately and throwing explosive devices, triggering chaos as worshippers attempted to flee for safety.
According to the witness, one of the gunmen signalled another to move forward before they opened fire on congregants, while others hurled multiple explosives into the church.
He identified Al Qasim Idris as the gunman who beckoned his accomplice, and Abdulhaleem Idris as the attacker seen carrying a bag as the assailants withdrew from the scene.
PW2 further told the court that over 40 worshippers were killed in the attack, with many others sustaining injuries. He described the church premises as heavily damaged, littered with bloodstains and bearing visible blast marks.
The DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) in connection with the deadly assault.
A third prosecution witness, a female survivor identified as SSC, recounted her narrow escape from death after an explosive device detonated near the altar, leaving her with severe injuries to her left leg.
She displayed the injured limb to the court, explaining that she had undergone four surgeries, including skin grafting, and still has an iron implant.
SSC also testified that her two-year-old cousin was shot dead during the attack. She told the court that 41 victims died instantly, while over 100 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, figures she said were contained in an obituary published after the mass burial of the victims.
She further confirmed that she gave her statement to the DSS in Akure on May 26, 2024.
The trial continues on January 14, with proceedings scheduled for 12 noon.