₦airaland Forum

A Catholic church priest on Thursday gave a harrowing account before the Federal High Court in Abuja of how terrorists stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others during the 2022 Pentecost Sunday service.

Testifying behind a protective screen and identified only as “SSA” for security reasons, the priest appeared as the first prosecution witness in the trial of five men charged by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the massacre.

The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — are facing a nine-count amended charge before Justice Emeka Nwite.

“We suddenly heard a loud noise… then gunshots”

Narrating the events of June 5, 2022, the priest said the attack occurred just as the First Pentecost Sunday Mass, which he presided over, was winding down.

“As the Mass was coming to a close, we suddenly heard a loud noise, followed by sporadic gunshots,” he told the court while being led in evidence by DSS counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN).

“There was commotion and chaos among the congregation.”

He recalled initially thinking someone had fallen, until he noticed two parishioners rushing to lock the main entrance. Moments later, an elder ran to him, warning that the church was under attack.

“At that moment, I heard more gunshots outside. I wanted to run, but the children were there. I could not leave them,” he said.

Seeking refuge in a restroom, the witness said he and several adults immediately began ushering the children to safety.

“The only place available was the restroom attached to the sanctuary,” he explained. “While inside, we continued to hear gunshots.”

He recounted hearing two explosions, followed by a third detonation dangerously close to where he and the children were hiding.

“The effect was like the ground opening to swallow us,” he said. “After a while, some church members came in and told us the attackers had left.”

“I saw my choir master shot in the chest."

When he stepped out, the priest said he was confronted with a devastating scene.

“Bodies were scattered around the church. I saw my choir master shot in the chest. He called me to pray for him. I did — but I told him we must take him to the hospital.”

He described a desperate effort to transport the injured.

“I shouted that anyone who could still drive should help move our brothers and sisters to the hospital,” he said.

He personally made two trips to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, ferrying victims. By his second return, ambulances from FMC and St. Louis Catholic Hospital had arrived and were already conveying casualties.

“The emergency ward was filled. With the wailing and crying, I couldn’t even drive again,” he said.

“I could not identify the attackers”

During cross-examination, the priest said he could not estimate the number of people killed at the scene due to the chaos.

“It was like that proverb: the person hit by a vehicle does not wait to note the number plate,” he said. “I couldn’t count the dead.”

He also said he could not identify how many attackers stormed the church.

“With the commotion and my desire to rescue the children quickly, I did not identify or recognise those who carried out the attack,” he said.

Earlier, Adedipe informed the court that the charge had been amended to correct minor errors. The amended charges were read to the defendants, who all pleaded not guilty.

Justice Nwite adjourned further hearing to January 13 and 14, 2026.

SaharaReporters

The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — are facing a nine-count amended charge before Justice Emeka Nwite.

Done by Muslims to fulfilled their blood thirsty book instructions. If we decide to make islam illegal, Nigeria will be free from all this calamity

Imagine their age... apart from the one of 47. The only thing this religion think off is to take somebody's life.

Three years gone, this case is still footdragging. Such high level of atrocity.
Motive, sponsors and all those involved ought to have been concluded in shortest possible time and justice given.

I wonder why this case is taking long... No wonder it doesn't serve as deterrence to others from perpetuating same crime

Masha Allah! Adherents of the religion of blood and destruction again - the famed religion of peace.

Now according to the likes of Tuggar, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Kukah and other wicked souls, the 40 faithfuls gruesomely killed for their faith here are just numbers. Hence not genocide. As for the killers, God will take care of your evil in due course

Incompatible...
A.F. Branco December 10, 2025

https://comicallyincorrect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01-coexist-now-ci-1080-600x429.jpg

Islam, with its Sharia Law, is working to take over the world; it is incompatible with U.S. values and its Constitution.

Nigeria is the more you look the less you see

Crime commited in 2022 and trial has just begun in 2025

How many thousand more will be killed before Christians will rise up without fear and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

seunoyeleyep:
Crime commited in 2022 and trial has just begun in 2025

Priorities!!

They are dealing with more important issues such as politics (sic)

Does anyone know the reason for the attack?
1) ISWAP and Boko Haram usually gloat , make videos and tell the whole world of their achievements.
2) Terrorists would normally target something major in a major city for example the State Capitall.
3) Were the attackers after some people in particular as one eye witness said after the attack in 2022? He said they were shouting for someone and then people confronted them ,thats when the shooting started.

If these people are guilty, it should be death penalty and prompt execution.

It is well. That’s all I can say , if we remember what happened that day . Hmmm

If not for America ,the case would have been swept under the rug.

OLAADEGBU:
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — are facing a nine-count amended charge before Justice Emeka Nwite.

If these are the killers, I am asking myself are these really human beings? The massacre that day was beyond evil.
Let's hear what they will say in their defense?

Wahhabism: wahhabism is a intolerant, puritanical, militant interpretation of Islam that calls for the wholesale destruction of the West/moderate Islam in a jihad of global proportions. These are the Islamic fundamentalist. These extremist are divided into Political, Scholarly and Jihadist.

Political - APC, Shettima, Matawalle , Buhari
Scholarly - Gumi, Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem
Jihadist - Shekau, al barnawi, Bello Turji, bandits .

The government needs to go after all of this people for complete eradication.

Oya , connect the dots 🤷🏿

IPOB terrorists are also Muslims.

Yet they will tell you no genocide against Christian because Muslims too are been killed.

If a Muslim kill a Muslim, that's family problem

But why should Muslims continue killing Christians shouting alau ak bar?

Ok started the madness by allowing Sharia legal system in Zamfara and of recent Aregbe rascal push it to Yorubaland thru introduction of hijab in Osun school

Honestly, they are even looking fresh in DSS custody.

A day never to be forgotten in my life Thank God that all my family survived it.Ojo buruku esu gbomimu at St Francis owaluwa.Bami Jesus sere o

Teymanhenry:
How many thousand more will be killed before Christians will rise up without fear and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Anyone leaving his or her life and property to the safety of the State alone is an endangered specie. Like a Yoruba musician sang " Madness is used to cure Madness"

If this is face of the criminals they should not last more than 24hrs on the surface of the earth. Wicked people killing in the name of religion. Rest on to the dead
I don't know what Trump is waiting for

SpaceX:
Done by Muslims to fulfilled their blood thirsty book instructions. If we decide to make islam illegal, Nigeria will be free from all this calamity

I dont think so! They are no worse than people kidnapping and maiming people for money

babzo:
Does anyone know the reason for the attack?
1) ISWAP and Boko Haram usually gloat , make videos and tell the whole world of their achievements.
2) Terrorists would normally target something major in a major city for example the State Capitall.
3) Were the attackers after some people in particular as one eye witness said after the attack in 2022? He said they were shouting for someone and then people confronted them ,thats when the shooting started.

If these people are guilty, it should be death penalty and prompt execution.

Interesting. I was wondering how many people launched the attack ... that only three are at trial. Is it because they are Muslims and the victims Christians therefore the motive is religious? ... Christian genocide? If they were calling for a particular person ... then one should want to believe it was a personal matter. This reminds me of South American drug cartels ... when one takes their drugs to sell and disappears ... they usually wipe out his family. Can this be the same MO?... drug related? ... the killers being part of a cartel hit squad? ..the one they were calling for the target?...and since he was not forthcoming they riddled his "family"? ... the church members? Let's hear from the other side. This case has taken a long time to trial .... why? This is just more evidence that the government is not at all concerned about mass killings of the common man. But the same common man is so passionate about voting the same government back into power. And we wonder why we are not moving forward .

I won't be surprised that these known terrorists will be given fear hearing and discharge in the end. Nigerian government are terrorists sponsors