An eighth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of suspects linked to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, has corroborated the testimony of a previous witness while recounting his experience.
The witness, identified by the codename SSH and an official of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that his team was on an anti-kidnapping patrol when they received a distress call on the day of the attack.
He said that upon arrival at the church, they found several worshippers lying lifeless inside the premises.
According to him, preliminary findings indicated that the attackers fled in a blue Nissan vehicle towards Ute Road. Security operatives immediately gave chase, but the suspects later abandoned the vehicle and escaped into a nearby bush along the same route.
The witness further stated that one operative and a volunteer hunter pursued the suspects into the bush. Moments later, gunshots were heard, and the operative returned to report that the hunter had been killed during the pursuit.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammed, the witness confirmed that seven operatives, including the volunteer hunter, were on patrol at the time of the incident.
He also told the court that the owner of the blue Nissan vehicle later presented himself for identification before the vehicle was moved to the Amotekun headquarters.
Following the testimony, the court adjourned proceedings to March 24, 25, and 26 for the prosecution to close its case.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
