DSS Witness Links Defendants to Owo Church Attack

On Wednesday, a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) testified in a federal high court regarding the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The witness detailed how forensic analysis of cell phone records linked four defendants—Idri Abdulmalik (25), Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idri (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idri (25)—to the crime scene. The court heard that phone call records indicated the defendants were present around the church during the attack.

The defendants voluntarily provided confession statements, which were admitted into evidence despite objections from defense lawyer Abdullahi Mohammad. Justice Emeka Nwite ruled to reject the request for a trial within a trial to assess the admissibility of the statements.

The prosecution, represented by Ayodeji Adedip SAN, confirmed that the defendants were members of the ISWAP group and used two vehicles during the attack. The case is set to resume on Thursday at noon.