The trial of those accused of the deadly 2022 Owo church massacre continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court Abuja, with a survivor providing a harrowing account of how she narrowly escaped death. .
Testifying as a third prosecution witness of the Department of State Services, DSS using the pseudo name SSC, she described a scene of immediate panic during the Pentecost Sunday service of June 5, 2022.
The witness, a student from Anambra State, recalled that she did not immediately understand what was happening until the elderly woman seated next to her was fatally shot. As chaos erupted, a man pulled her towards the altar where one of the attackers, according to her testimony, accused her of seeing his face, threatened her, and placed an explosive device near her.
The device detonated, severely injuring her left leg. She has since undergone four surgeries and now walks with an iron implant while still going for regular medical check-up.
Tragically, while being taken to the hospital, she saw the lifeless body of her two-year-old cousin nearby, later finding out he was shot at the back of the head.
A second prosecution witness, identified by the pseudo name SSB, also took the stand. The retiree from Owo described hearing gunshots outside the church before armed men stormed the building. He detailed how he hid face-down on the floor as explosions rocked the church, and watched as three assailants inspected the scene before leaving.
In a dramatic moment, the witness was asked to identify the gunmen. After a closer look, prompted by the court due to a defendant wearing a face mask, he initially pointed to the fifth defendants, but after being directed by the court to take a closer look, he identified the second and fourth defendants as two of the assailants he saw that day.
Defense counsel objected to the change in identification, but the judge ruled the issue would be addressed during cross-examination.
SSB testified he saw at least 40 bodies after escaping through a window including the body of a woman lying beside a vehicle.
The violent attack in June 2022 left about 41 worshippers instantly dead and over 100 injured. After listening to the testimonies, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the case to Wednesday for continuation of proceedings
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
