An eyewitness has told a Federal Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city how he survived the June 5, 2022 mass shooting and bomb attack at a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in which over 40 persons were killed and several dozens critically wounded.
Testifying as a government witness, he said he had to hide in the church restroom while the attack was taking place.
Identified by a pseudo name SSA, the Akure resident said he was holed up with some children while three bombs exploded midway during the Sunday service.
According to him, the attack started while the church was performing the last rites of the mass and as members were singing the recessional hymn
Facing the congregation, he initially thought someone had fallen, but then saw two members of the community quickly lock the main entrance.
An elder rushed to him and informed him that they were under attack, and at that moment he also heard sporadic gunshots outside the church.
The witness said he initially wanted to run out, but reconsidered because of the children present.
He and some members immediately tried to move the children to safety.
He told the Court that the only place available for refuge was the church restroom, where they continued to hear gunshots.
After two explosions went off, the third explosive detonated very close to where he was sheltering with the children, with an impact that felt as if the ground was about to open.
SSA testified that after he was informed the attackers had left, he came out and saw casualties, both injured and dead, and immediately called for them to be taken to the hospital.
After the first group was evacuated, an ambulance arrived to rescue other casualties within the premises.
During cross-examination, when asked if he knew the number of attackers, the witness, SSA responded, “The one struck by a vehicle doesn’t wait to take note of the vehicle’s number.”
He explained that due to the commotion and his focus on rescuing the children as quickly as possible, he could not and did not identify or count the attackers.
After cross-examination, lawyers in the matter requested an adjournment, which the Court granted. Justice Nwite adjourned the trial to January 13 and 14, 2026.
Earlier, prosecution counsel, Adedayo Adedipe, SAN, had presented the Court with a letter of change of counsel authorizing him to take over the case from Callistus Eze as lead counsel.
The Court then read the amended 9-count charge to the suspects, who all pleaded not guilty.
The Owo church attack is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the South West state
The Department of State Services (DSS), subsequently swung into action, leading to the arrest of 5 suspects who are said to be members of Al Shabab Terrorist Group
They include; Idris Abdumalik Omeiza, 25 years; Al Qasim Isris, 20 years; Jamiu Abdumalik, 26 years; Anduhaleem Idris, 25 years and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47 years.
Editor: Ken Eseni
