Owo Church Attack Trial: Another DSS Witness Identifies Alleged Perpetrator

A witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) has identified one of the defendants in the ongoing trial concerning the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The witness, who is a member of the Ondo Security Network (Amotekun), informed a Federal High Court in Abuja that he recognized the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, due to a close-quarters exchange of gunfire.

This marks the second instance in the trial where a prosecution witness has identified individuals implicated in the attack. Previously, on January 13, a witness, described as a church member present during the assault, had identified Al Qasim Idris (the second defendant) and Abdulhaleem Idris (the fourth defendant) as individuals seen among the attackers.

The Department of State Services is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, aged 25; Al Qasim Idris, aged 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, aged 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, aged 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, aged 47, for their alleged involvement in the church attack.

During proceedings, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), identified as “SSG” and part of the Amotekun security network, testified that he was alerted to the attack and dispatched to the church with his team. Upon arrival, he observed numerous bodies, reporting 35 fatalities, including men, women, and children, in the church hall.

PW7 recounted that the attackers had reportedly fled the scene in a Nissan Sunny vehicle, heading towards a specific direction. He stated that he and his team pursued the vehicle, which led them to Ijegunman Village. The suspects, numbering four, abandoned the blue Nissan Sunny (registration AKR/895/AG) and fled into the bush upon sighting the security operatives.

The witness added that he and a hunter assisting his team pursued the fleeing men into the bush. At one point, they encountered the attackers hiding, and an exchange of gunfire ensued, with the attackers armed with AK47 rifles and PW7 using a Pump Action gun. He reported that three of the attackers retreated further into the bush, while one hid behind a tree and fatally shot the hunter who was positioned behind PW7.

PW7 asserted that he observed the individual who shot the hunter at close range and could identify him, despite the incident occurring approximately four years prior. Following an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), and without objection from the defense counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness was permitted to approach the dock.

With the court's authorization, the witness stepped down from the witness box and pointed to the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, identifying him as the person who shot and killed the hunter. The witness further stated that he took photographs of the recovered vehicle on June 6, 2022, using his Samsung Galaxy A12 phone before it was transferred to the Owo Amotekun office. These photographs were presented and accepted as evidence.

Under cross-examination, when asked to reconfirm his identification, PW7 reiterated his identification of the second defendant. When questioned about his inability to apprehend the defendant, who was alone with him at the time the others fled, the witness explained that the defendant was armed with an AK47 rifle, which posed a greater threat than his Pump Action weapon. He also expressed uncertainty about whether the other three individuals were lying in wait to attack him.

PW7, who holds the position of Assistant Commander in Amotekun, confirmed that the second defendant's arrest was a result of collaborative efforts by all security agencies in Ondo State. Regarding the current location of the recovered vehicle, he stated it was at his headquarters, having been handed over to his superior. He indicated that his boss would be the appropriate person to clarify whether investigations were conducted to ascertain the vehicle's owners.

Earlier in the proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), identified as “SSF,” presented himself as a pathologist who performed autopsies on the victims of the church attack.