OWO CHURCH ATTACK: DEFENDANT TELLS COURT HOW DSS ARRESTED HIM

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

One of the five persons standing trial over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Abdulmalik Omeiza, has narrated before the Federal High Court how he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The attack on the church in Owo, Ondo State, claimed the lives of 41 worshippers and left more than 140 others injured.

The DSS had earlier called 11 witnesses in the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, to substantiate the allegations against the defendants. The court admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine that the statements were voluntarily made.

The five defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).

Omeiza, who opened his defence during an accelerated hearing at the instance of the DSS, was led in evidence by his counsel, Abdullahi Muhammad. Although he described himself as an auxiliary nurse, he opted to testify in Ebira, prompting the court to provide an interpreter.

In his testimony, Omeiza said he was arrested on August 1, 2022, alongside two other young persons, Hauwa and Yusuf, in the same house. He told the court that he had woken up around 2:20 a.m. to read when he was apprehended.

He further stated that he first met the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, at the DSS facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, where they were detained. According to him, officials recorded their personal details, including their names, schools attended, occupations, and their fathers’ names.

Omeiza said he volunteered a statement the following day and remained in detention until August 18, 2022, when he learnt that his elder brother had also been arrested. He added that prior to their transfer to Ondo State, DSS officials did not question him about the Owo church attack or alleged membership of ISWAP or any other terrorist organisation.

Upon their relocation to the DSS headquarters in Ondo State, Omeiza claimed he and his brother were detained in the same room and interrogated about the attack on the Owo Catholic Church.

The court adjourned further hearing in the matter to March 6 for continuation of the defence.