Owo massacre: Catholic priest recounts church bombing, shootings in court

Remains of the victims of the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, massacre at the funeral mass in June 22.

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A Catholic priest on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how terrorists launched a deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others during Pentecost Sunday service in 2022.

Testifying behind a protective screen and identified as “SSA” for security reasons, the priest appeared as the first prosecution witness in the trial of five suspects being prosecuted by the Department of State Services.

The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — face a nine-count amended charge before Justice Emeka Nwite.

Narrating the events of June 5, 2022, the priest said the attack occurred towards the end of the First Pentecost Sunday Mass, which he presided over.

While being led in evidence by DSS counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the witness told the court that the attack took place towards the end of the First Pentecost Sunday celebration, which was attended by many worshippers.

The priest, who said he presided over the service, stated that as the Mass was coming to a close, they suddenly heard a loud noise followed by sporadic gunshots, which created commotion and chaos among the congregation.

Facing the congregation, he initially thought someone had fallen, but then saw two members of the community quickly lock the main entrance.

An elder rushed to him and informed him they were under attack. At that moment, he also heard sporadic gunshots outside the church.

The witness said he initially wanted to run out but reconsidered because of the children present.

He and some members immediately tried to move the children to safety.

He said the only place available for refuge was the church restroom, where they continued to hear gunshots.

After two explosions went off, the third explosive detonated very close to where he was sheltering with the children, with an impact that felt as if the ground was about to open.

He stated, “The effect was like the ground opening to swallow us immediately. So, the attack continued. After a while, some of our church members came into this place  and notified us that those who came to attack us had left.”

He said that after the attackers fled, he stepped out to see bodies and critically injured worshippers scattered around the church.

“Moving out with the children, I saw my choir master shot at the chest. He called me to pray for him. I did, but I told him I have to move him to the hospital.

“When I got out, I saw some already dead on the floor. So, I shouted that if there is any of us who could still drive, let us begin to move our brothers and sisters to the hospital,” the witness said.

During cross-examination, when asked if he counted the number of dead, the witness said it was impossible for him to ascertain the number of those killed under the commotion created by the attackers.

“It was with that violent attack that I understood that proverb that says, ‘the one struck or hit by a vehicle does not wait to take note of the vehicle’s number plate. So, I could not immediately count the number of those dead.

“Personally, I went two times to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, to take the casualties to the hospital. By the time I came the second time, there were already ambulances, both from FMC Owo and St. Louis Catholic Hospital, Owo, also moving the casualties to these two hospitals.

“The second time I got to FMC, the emergency ward was filled with these casualties. The casualties were those who were killed and injured.

“With the wailing, weeping and crying from people, I couldn’t even drive again. The care and healing of those injured continued,” the witness told the court.

The priest said he was later invited to the DSS office in Akure, Ondo State, where he made a statement.

During further cross-examination by defence lawyer Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness said he could not ascertain the number of attackers.

“With the commotion in the church, and my desire to rescue, especially the children, quickly as possible, I could not, and I did not identify or recognise those who carried out the attack.

“Therefore, I don’t know their number,” he added.

On how he managed to rescue the children, he explained that the children were at the foot of the sanctuary where he was standing when the attack started.

“As I said, with some adults, I moved with the children to a safe place. This safe place is the restroom, attached to the sanctuary as a building. From that building that is attached, you can move into the sanctuary and out of it,” he added.

Earlier at the commencement of proceedings, Adedipe informed the court that the charge had been amended to correct some minor errors.

He applied that the amended charge be read to the defendants, which was done, and the defendants all pleaded not guilty.

Justice Nwite adjourned hearing until January 13 and 14, 2026, at 12 noon daily.

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