A prosecution witness from Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the men standing trial over the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo were members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, the witness — identified only as SSI — said he led the counter-terrorism investigation into the attack in his capacity as Deputy Director in charge of such operations. According to him, the DSS was mandated to uncover the perpetrators, sponsors and circumstances surrounding the horrific assault that left scores dead and many more injured.
The court heard that intelligence gathering and technical analysis led to the arrest of five suspects in August 2022 across Kogi and Ondo states. Those arrested were named as Al-Qasim Idris; his brother, Abdul-Halil Idris; Omeiza Abdulmalik; his brother, Jamiu Abdulmalik; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
The five defendants are facing a nine-count terrorism charge in connection with the attack, which claimed over 40 lives during Sunday Mass at the Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State.
In detailed testimony, the DSS witness alleged that the accused were members of a proscribed ISWAP cell operating around Okene and Adavi Local Government Areas of Kogi State, as well as Omi-alafa and Omi-lenge in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State. He said the cell operated under the coordination of an individual identified as Odoba.
According to the witness, a meeting was convened on 30 May 2022 at Government Secondary School, Ogaminana, where members of the cell were allegedly directed to attack the church in Owo on a Sunday and “ensure that they kill the Priest”.
He further testified that Al-Qasim Idris later held a follow-up meeting with other members after Juma’at prayers at a mosque where his father served as Chief Imam, relaying the directive and informing them that two reinforcements — identified as Mohammed and Abdullahi — would join the operation.
The court was told that on 4 June 2022, Abdul-Halil allegedly travelled to Adavi, hired a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle and met with Odoba, who reportedly supplied five AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The weapons were said to have
been transported to Omi-alafa, where the group conducted a rehearsal before spending the night in Al-Qasim’s room.On the morning of 5 June, the first to fourth defendants and another suspect identified as Kabir — said to be at large — were allegedly driven to the church in a hired vehicle with weapons concealed in sacks. They reportedly met the two reinforcements near the church before launching the assault.
The witness told the court that the first victim was shot outside the church premises. The attackers allegedly commandeered a Nissan Sunny vehicle before storming the church compound. Once inside and around the sanctuary, they fired indiscriminately at worshippers attempting to flee, while Abdul-Halil detonated at least three explosive devices.
He said about 140 victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, while 23 others were treated at Saint Louis Hospital. According to the DSS investigation, 40 persons died at FMC, with another killed outside the church, bringing the total fatalities referenced in his testimony to 41.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered multiple exhibits, including medical and death reports from FMC signed by Dr Ayodeji O.O., lists of admitted victims from Saint Louis Hospital, and a list of deceased church members provided by St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. A report from the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, confirming the clearance of the scene, was also admitted, alongside 30 pages of photographs of victims and a certificate of compliance under the Evidence Act.
On the role of the fifth defendant, Momoh Abubakar, the witness said it was initially an “oversight” that his alleged involvement was not earlier detailed. He claimed Abubakar operated about five Point-of-Sale (POS) machines and received two credits of ₦800,000 in the weeks preceding the attack. The funds, he alleged, were distributed to members of the ISWAP cell.
The witness further stated that technical evidence placed the fifth defendant in communication with the other accused persons around the time of the attack. He confirmed that autopsies were conducted and that the reports remain in DSS custody.
A comprehensive investigation report signed by the witness was also tendered and admitted in evidence without objection, although defence counsel requested time to cross-examine on the documents, noting that they were served in court.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to 18 February for cross-examination of the witness as the trial continues.
