DSS witness details Owo Church attack, causing 41 deaths, 140 injuries

A Department of State Services (DSS) witness, on Tuesday, told the federal high court in Abuja of how the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, was planned and carried out, resulting in 41 deaths and 140 injuries.

The witness, identified as prosecution witness number nine with security code SSI, is a deputy director in charge of terrorism investigations and led the DSS team that investigated the attack.

During proceedings led by Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, the witness said his team was tasked with identifying the perpetrators, their motives, and any sponsors.

He said intelligence gathered by the DSS led to the arrest of five suspects in August 2022 in Kogi and Ondo states.

The suspects were identified as Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Quasim Idris, Jemiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Investigations showed they were members of Al-Shabab, a faction of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a banned terrorist group.

The witness said the attack was ordered at a meeting on May 30, 2022, at Government Secondary School in Ogaminana, Kogi State, led by an individual named Odoba.

The plan directed that the attack occur on Sunday and that the priest be targeted.

Al Quasim Idris returned to Omilafia and Omilenge to brief other members.

Another meeting was held after Jumaat prayers to reinforce the instructions. Before the attack, Abdulhaleem Idris hired a Volkswagen Golf in Adavi and received five AK-47 rifles, ten magazines, live ammunition, and explosives from Odoba.

The group was trained on handling the weapons.

On the day of the attack, the suspects, along with one Kabiru who remains at large, were transported in the Volkswagen with weapons hidden in a sack.

The weapons were removed on arrival at the church.

The group reportedly seized a vehicle from a member of Deeper Life Church before proceeding to the Catholic Church, where they opened fire inside and outside the sanctuary.

The attack caused 40 immediate deaths and about 140 injuries. Victims were taken to the Federal Medical Center and St. Louis Hospital in Owo.

Justice Emeka Nwite admitted several DSS exhibits, including the investigation report, autopsy report, photographs of the deceased, and the death report signed by Dr. Ayodeji O.O.

The court adjourned until February 18 for cross-examination of the witness by the defendants’ counsel.

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