How Suspected ISWAP Members Attacked Owo Catholic Church — DSS Witness Tells Court

A Department of State Services (DSS) witness on Tuesday gave detailed testimony before the Federal High Court in Abuja, describing how suspected ISWAP members allegedly planned and carried out the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Testifying under protection, the witness said investigations revealed that those arrested belonged to an Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) cell operating around Okene/Adavi LGA in Kogi State and parts of Ose LGA in Ondo State. The cell, he said, was coordinated by a man identified as Odoba, who allegedly moved around Ogaminana in Adavi LGA.

According to the witness, the attack was planned days earlier.

He told the court that on May 30, 2022, Odoba convened a meeting at Government Secondary School, Ogaminana. Present at the meeting was Al-Qasim Idris and other members of the cell. During that meeting, Odoba allegedly instructed them to prepare for an attack on the Catholic church in Owo and specifically directed that it be carried out on a Sunday, with the priest as a target.

The witness said Al-Qasim later gathered other members, including his brother Abdulhaleem Idris and Jamiu Abdulmalik, informing them to prepare as instructed. Two additional individuals, identified as Mohammed and Abdullahi, were said to have been brought in to reinforce the team.

On June 4, 2022, Abdulhaleem allegedly travelled to Adavi, hired a Volkswagen Golf 3, and met Odoba, who reportedly supplied five AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). By evening, the group gathered at Abdulhaleem’s residence, where the plan was reviewed and what the witness described as a “dry practice”, weapon handling without live ammunition was conducted.

The following morning, June 5, the defendants and another suspect still at large were reportedly driven to the church with the weapons concealed in sacks. According to the testimony, they met Mohammed and Abdullahi near the location.

The witness described how two of the attackers sat near a woman roasting corn outside the church, blending in. After interacting briefly with a hawker nearby, one of the attackers allegedly shot him, triggering panic.

Amid the chaos, the group reportedly hijacked a vehicle and drove into the church premises. The witness told the court that the attackers then opened fire inside and outside the sanctuary. He said improvised explosive devices were detonated during the assault.

According to the DSS investigation, over 40 people died, including women and children, while many others sustained injuries.

Five men are currently being prosecuted: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

The witness further testified that the fifth defendant allegedly played a financial role. He said investigations showed that the defendant operated multiple Point of Sale (POS) units and received two transfers totaling ₦800,000 weeks before the attack. The funds were allegedly distributed among members of the group, though no legitimate business transactions were traced.

The prosecution tendered medical reports, autopsy findings, photographs from the scene, and a comprehensive investigation report, all admitted into evidence.

The defence requested time to review the investigation report before cross examining the witness. Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to February 18 for continuation of trial.

The case continues.