DSS Witness Details Owo Church Attack in Court Testimony

On Tuesday, a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) testified in the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The witness, identified as the 9th prosecuting witness, detailed how the five defendants—Idris Abdulmalik, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—were paid, mobilized, and moved weapons for the attack that resulted in the deaths of 40 individuals and injuries to 100 others. The DSS, led by prosecuting lawyer Ayodeji Adedipe SAN, provided a comprehensive investigative report, revealing that the defendants were linked to the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

The witness described meetings held to plan the attack, including a gathering on May 30, 2022, where instructions were given to ensure the killing of a priest. The attack was executed using firearms and explosives, with detailed accounts of the logistics involved.