Survivors testify as trial opens emotional phase
Survivors of the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, on Wednesday gave graphic accounts of the incident as the trial of five accused men continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the suspects over their alleged roles in the attack that left dozens dead and many injured.
DSS prosecutes five accused persons
Those standing trial are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).
The case is before Justice Emeka Nwite.
Husband recalls searching through corpses
Testifying as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), a man identified as “SSE” told the court he attended the church service with his mother, wife and three children on the day of the attack.
He said gunshots were first heard shortly after the final blessing, adding that worshippers initially mistook the sound for celebratory firecrackers.
According to him, the attackers later forced their way into the church, firing through windows and throwing explosive devices at worshippers gathered near an exit.
SSE said he hid under a pew as explosives detonated inside the church, filling the hall with smoke and dust.
After the assailants left, he said he searched through bodies inside the church while looking for his missing son.
“I had to be turning the corpses of young people on the floor to see if any of them was my son,” he told the court.
Wife identified among injured victims
SSE said he later realised that a badly injured woman he had seen inside the church was his wife.
He told the court that she was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where doctors amputated both her legs and later discovered that one of her eyes had ruptured.
He said his wife now lives without her legs and one eye, adding that efforts by the Ondo State Government to provide functional prostheses were unsuccessful.
Under cross-examination, he said the attackers used both guns and explosives, adding that he saw three assailants inside the church and one shooting from outside.
Wife gives firsthand account of injuries
Earlier, the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), identified as “SSD,” told the court she is a nurse with the Ondo State Hospital Management Board.
She said she ran towards the altar to hide as gunshots rang out, with several people lying on top of one another.
She told the court that a loud explosion followed, after which she realised her legs were shattered and her left eye badly damaged.
“I touched my leg, I could not feel anything,” she said, adding that she lost her voice temporarily and could barely hear.
SSD said she later lost her left eye and both legs, which were amputated above the knees, and spent over five months in hospital before being discharged.
She now uses a wheelchair.
Court observes injuries in open session
At the request of the prosecution, Justice Nwite allowed the witness to be wheeled to the centre of the courtroom to show the court her amputated legs and damaged eye.
Under cross-examination, SSD said she could not identify the attackers or say how many people carried out the attack.
She added that she learnt about the number of fatalities later through information shared after the incident.
Hearing adjourned
Justice Nwite adjourned further hearing in the matter to February 10 and 11.
