A prosecution witness on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja how members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) planned, funded and executed the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The witness, identified as SSI and the ninth prosecution witness (PW9), said he led the Department of State Services (DSS) counter-terrorism investigation into the deadly incident that claimed more than 40 lives and left over 100 others injured.
Testifying before the court, the deputy director in charge of counter-terrorism investigation detailed how five men now standing trial were allegedly mobilised, armed and financed to carry out the assault.
The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al-Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They are being prosecuted by the DSS for alleged complicity in the attack.
Arrests Across Two States
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the witness said intelligence gathering and technical surveillance led to the arrest of the suspects in August 2022 across Kogi and Ondo states.
According to him, investigations revealed that the suspects were members of ISWAP, a proscribed terrorist organisation, operating within a cell around Okene and Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, as well as parts of Ose Local Government Area in Ondo State.
The cell was allegedly coordinated by a man identified as Odoba, who the witness said operated around Ogaminana in Adavi LGA of Kogi State.
Alleged Planning and Mobilisation
PW9 told the court that on May 30, 2022, Odoba convened a meeting of ISWAP members at Government Secondary School, Ogaminana, where instructions were allegedly issued to attack the Catholic church in Owo on a Sunday service, with a specific directive to target the priest.
He said Al-Qasim Idris attended the meeting and subsequently briefed other cell members, including his brother Abdulhaleem and Jamiu Abdulmalik, about the planned attack. The meeting in Ondo State was reportedly held after Juma’at prayers at a mosque.
The witness further stated that Abdulhaleem travelled to Adavi on June 4, 2022, where he hired a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle and allegedly collected five AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from Odoba.
The group allegedly conducted a “dry practice” session, a rehearsal using weapons without live ammunition, before proceeding with the attack plan.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to the prosecution witness, the attackers arrived at the church between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on June 5, 2022, concealing weapons in sacks.
He told the court that the assailants positioned themselves around the church premises before initiating the assault, which triggered panic among worshippers.
The attackers allegedly forced their way into the church premises in a hijacked vehicle and opened fire inside and outside the sanctuary. Explosive devices were also detonated during the assault.
The witness said 40 people died at the Federal Medical Centre, while dozens sustained injuries. Some victims were reportedly brought to the hospital already deceased.
Financial Trail and Role of Fifth Defendant
Addressing the role of the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, PW9 said investigations revealed that he operated Point of Sale (POS) terminals in five locations and allegedly facilitated the disbursement of funds used in preparing for the attack.
According to the witness, about two to three weeks before the incident, the fifth defendant’s account received two separate credits totalling N800,000. He allegedly distributed the funds to members of the ISWAP cell through his POS operations.
Technical evidence, the witness added, placed the fifth defendant in communication with the other accused persons during the relevant period.
Evidence Admitted in Court
The prosecution tendered several exhibits, including a medical report signed by Dr. Ayodeji O.O., autopsy reports, 30 photographs from the scene of the attack (admitted as Exhibits M–M30), and a comprehensive DSS investigation report.
All the documents were admitted in evidence without objection from the defence.
Defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad, however, requested time to study the investigation report, noting that it had been served on his team only days earlier. He sought an adjournment to enable proper cross-examination of the witness.
With no objection from the prosecution, the court adjourned further proceedings to Wednesday, February 18, at 11 a.m.
The trial continues amid heightened national concern over terrorism and the prosecution of those accused of orchestrating attacks on civilian targets.
