Suspects being tried for the June 5, 2022 terror attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State on Wednesday opened their defense in the terrorism charges brought against them by the Department of the State Service, DSS, before the Abuja Federal High Court.
A total of 41 worshippers were killed in the terror attack, with over 140 others injured.
The opening of the defense is coming after the DSS had called 11 witnesses to establish the allegations against the defendants in trial that commenced on August 1, 2025.
It is also coming after the court had admitted the confessional statements of the defendants following the conclusion of the trial within trial conducted to establish the voluntariness of the defendants’ statements.
The five defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years).
The 1st defendant, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, while opening his defense, narrated how he was nabbed at his Eika Ohiziyen community in Okehi local government area of Kogi state.
Omeiza, who claimed to be an auxiliary nurse, said he was arrested on August 1, 2022 along with two other young boys named Hauwa and Yusuf in the same house and bundled into a security vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, he said that he saw the 5th defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, having been also arrested by the DSS operatives and moved to Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
At the DSS office in Lokoja, Omeiza explained that the four of them were kept in a room where information in respect of their names, schools attended, occupation and their father’s name was obtained and recorded in a form.
The following day, the defendant said he volunteered statement and was in detention till August 18, 2022 when he got to know that his elder brother was also arrested.
As at 18th August 2022, when they were told they were being moved to Ondo State, he said that the issue of the Owo Catholic Church attack and membership of ISWAP or any other terror organization was not raised with him.
At the Akure DSS office, Omeiza claimed that he was detained in the same room with his elder brother, adding that they were subjected to some hardships by the interrogators – to get information from them about Owo Catholic Church attack.
Meanwhile, further hearing has been shifted the March 6 by Justice Emeka Nwite.
Suspects in Owo Church attack open defence in court
Â
