A State Security Service (SSS) investigator testified on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja about the detailed planning behind the June 2022 assault on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The investigator stated that the operation was thoroughly plotted, resulting in the apprehension of five individuals allegedly connected to the crime.
This testimony was delivered before Judge Emeka Nwite, marking the investigator as the ninth witness for the prosecution. Under a designated code SSG for protection, he detailed the circumstances and findings of the case.
The witness indicated that his team was assigned to investigate the incident that occurred on June 5, 2022, and to identify not only the attackers but also their affiliations and potential sponsors.
He explained that the investigation combined various methods, including both intelligence collection and technical measures, which ultimately led to the capture of five suspects in August 2022.
These suspects were identified as Idris Omeiza, aged 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47. The officer noted during the proceedings that these individuals were reportedly linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a designated terrorist group. Their directive was to carry out their attack on a Sunday, with the aim of murdering the priest.
The witness recounted that on the fateful day, the assailants executed their plan during Pentecost Mass, indiscriminately killing over 40 worshippers and injuring more than 100 others.
On August 11 of the previous year, years after the tragic attack, five men were arraigned by the Attorney-General's office on terrorism charges related to this incident, with accusations indicating that they were part of a Kogi State-based Al-Shabaab affiliate involved in the attack as part of a broader religious agenda.
Under the guidance of the prosecution attorney, Ayodeji Adedipe, the Deputy Director responsible for counter-terrorism investigations elaborated on how the planned actions facilitated the suspects’ arrest following systematic field operations across Kogi and Ondo states.
The witness detailed that the investigation revealed the suspects' association with ISWAP, operating a cell based around Okene and Adavi areas in Kogi State, in addition to Omilafa in Ondo State, under the leadership of someone identified as Odoba.
It was established that a meeting, orchestrated by Odoba on May 30, 2022, directed the members to launch an assault on the Owo church and target the priest specifically. After this meeting, preparations for the assault intensified among the group members.
In the lead-up to the attack, a suspect named Abdulhaleem traveled to Adavi to secure a vehicle and firearms, which included five AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and improvised explosives meant to facilitate the execution of their plan.
On June 5, 2022, the attackers drove towards the church concealed in the Volkswagen vehicle with their weapons hidden, stopping near the church before revealing their arms. The chaos that followed led to immediate violence, claiming the lives of many unsuspecting worshippers.
Abdulhaleem, notably equipped with the bag containing explosives, detonated several IEDs during the attack, while the others opened fire on worshippers and any law enforcement officers attempting to intervene. Reports indicate that approximately 140 individuals were treated for injuries at the Federal Medical Centre and Saint Louis Hospital, with 40 confirmed dead as a result of the assault.
The court was further informed that a detailed autopsy and hospital records corroborated the accounts of the tragic event. Additional exhibits, including confirmation documents from the church listing the victims, were presented as evidence.
The investigation revealed further complicities, including the financial interactions of the fifth suspect, who initially escaped scrutiny but was later found to have connections to the group financing their operations.
As the session concluded, the defense sought time to review the evidence presented, prompting the judge to adjourn the proceedings to the following Wednesday for further examination.
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