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Tag: Owo

  • Court sentences 4 Owo church bombers to death by hanging, acquits 1

    Court sentences 4 Owo church bombers to death by hanging, acquits 1

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced four of the five defendants being prosecuted for their involvement in the 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, to death by hanging.

    Judge Emeka Nwite, in a judgement, held that the Department of State Services (DSS) had been able to prove the charge against the defendants.

    Justice Nwite held that after careful review of the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defence, it was “clear” that the convicted men belonged to a proscribed terrorist group known as “Al-Shabaab.”

    The judge, therefore, convicted the 1st to 4th defendants on count one for belonging to the terrorist group and acquited the 5th defendant on that count.

    On count two, the judge also convicted the 1st to 4th defendants.

    He held that the prosecution’s evidence “remains credible” and was not effectively challenged by the defendants.

    On count three, the court convicted them as the masterminds of the attack in connection with a meeting held on May 30, 2022, while the judge discharged and acquitted the 5th defendant on that count.

    On counts four and five, the court also convicted the four defendants, while the 5th defendant was discharged and acquitted.

    On count six, where the 5th defendant was charged with financing terrorism in connection with the attack, the judge said the prosecution did not prove that he financed the attack.

    Justice Nwite then discharged and acquitted him of the counts.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants convicted are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, while Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was exonerated of the charges.

    The attack, which took place on June 5, 2022 at the church, left no fewer than 41 worshippers dead while over a 100 others sustained varying degree of injuries.

     

  • Owo church massacre: How suspected terrorists were paid, mobilised for attack– DSS witness

    Owo church massacre: How suspected terrorists were paid, mobilised for attack– DSS witness

     

    A witness of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the suspected terrorists were funded, armed and mobilised to attack St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, on June 5, 2022.

    The witness, who led a DSS investigation into the attack, gave details of the roles played by the defendants in the attack in which he said over 40 people died, while over 100 individuals sustained various injuries.

    Identified as SSI for security reasons, the witness, who was the 9th prosecution witness (PW-9), spoke while given his evidence before Justice Emeka Nwite.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution also tendered what it described as “a comprehensive investigation report on the incident,” which the court admitted in evidence in the absence of objection from the defence and marked as exhibit in the case.

    NAN reports that the five men, being prosecuted by the DSS, 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).

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, the witness said he is the Deputy Director in charge of Counter Terrorism Investigation and led the investigation team.

    He said his team was mandated to unravel the perpetrators, the cause of the incident, their sponsors and any other findings that may arise .

    “With that, we proceeded to gather intelligence and also exploited technical resources, which eventually led us to the arrest of five persons in the month of August 2022.

    “The arrest occurred both in Kogi and Ondo States and the persons we arrested were Al-Qasim Idris (2nd defendant) and his brother Abdulhalid Idris (4th defendant), then Omaiza Abdulmalik (1st), then his brother, Jamiu Abdulmalik (3rd),” he said, and gave the name of the fifth defendant as Momoh Otuho Abubakar.”

    According to him, our investigation found out that the persons we arrested were members of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), a proscribed terrorist group, who belong to a cell that operated around Okene/Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, as well as Omielafa and Omielege in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State under the coordination of one Odoba.

    “Odoba usually hibernate around Ogaminana in Adavi LGA of Kogi State,” he said.

    Giving details of how the attack was planned, the witness said: “On the 30th of May, 2022, Odoba called a meeting of some of the group’s members, who are members of his ISWAP cell. They go with alliance, Al-Shabab.

    “So on the 30 of May, 2022, they met at the Government Secondary School, Ogaminana where Al-Qasim Idris was present in the meeting and Odoba passed the instruction for them to prepare to attack the Catholic Church Owo.

    “And, his instruction was clear that they should attack on Sunday and ensure that they kill the priest.

    “So when Al-Qasim returned to Omilafia, he gathered some of the cell members, including Abdulhalid (4th defendant), his brother, Jamiu (3rd defendant) and all the four were in the meeting, except the 5th defendant.

    “There was equally one Kabir, who is a cousin to Al-Qasim and Addulmalik. The meeting was held after tte jumaat prayer at the mosque where the Idris bothers’ father is the Chief Iman.

    “He (Al-Qasim) told them (those at the meeting) to be prepared for the attack as instructed by Odoba.

    “He only told them they will be getting two other persons to reinforce the team

    “The names of these individuals (the other two) are Mohammed and Abdullahi.

    “On Saturday, the next day, being the 4th of June, 2022, Abdulhaleem Idris (4th) travelled to Adavi, where he hired a Volkswagen Golf 3 car.

    “He proceeded to lead Odoba, who supported them with five AK47 riffles, 10.magazines, rounds of ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IED) for the planned attack,” he said.

    The PW-9 said by evening of the same day, they all gathered in Abdulhaleem’s house in Omilafia, where Al-Quasim allegedly, reviewed with the others, the attack plan and subsequently engaged in some dry practice.

    When asked to explain what he meant by “dry practice,” the witness said it is the practice done with weapon, without live rounds, to reorient oneself on the safety precaution of the weapons

    He added the at the end of the dry practice, they all spent the night in Al-Quasim’s room, adding that on the night of June 4, Al Qasim took a motorbike belonging to his father, which he rode most of the time, to deliver items to Mohammed and Abdullahi, to facilitate their movement for surveillance on the church and also during the attack.

    Giving a graphic detail of how the attack was carried out, the witness said: “The next morning, 5th of June, the 1st to 4th defendants and Kabir, now at large, were driven in the Golf car, with the weapons concealed in sacks, to the church about 8 to 8:30 am.

    “They met Abdullahi and Mohammed. They got to the church, removed the sacks and pulled out their weapons. Two of them sat with a woman roasting corn.

    “They bought some corns. A young man hawking stuff was observing them. One of them (the attackers) went and whispered to the hawker. When he was about leaving after being whispered to, he was shot dead instantly.

    “This triggered chaos in front of the church. In the midst of that, they accosted a man coming from the Deeper Life Bible Church in a Nissan Sunny car. They snatched his car and drove into the church premises.

    “Under Al Qasim’s directive, they proceeded in the directions he had told them to take. Abdulhaleem was carrying the bag containing the improvised explosives.

    “They shot sporadically in the church’s sanctuary, outside and all over, including worshippers trying to escape.

    “Abdulhaleem, who had the bag containing IEDs, detonated at least three explosives. Other attackers engaged the worshippers with gunshots.

    “40 people, including women and children, died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC). 23 were wounded and rushed to the hospital.,” he said.

    The witness added that apart from the 40 church members, who were killed, a non-member was the first to be killed by the attackers in front of the church, adding that some of the 40 deceased were taken to the hospital dead.

    The prosecution subsequently tendered a medical report, signed by one Dr Ayodeji O.O, in respect of which the witness said: “We have made effort to see how the doctor could come but was not possible.”

    The prosecution equally tendered 30 photographs taken from the incident’s scene by investigators, which the court admitted as Exhibit M – M30.

    SSI told the court that at the end of the investigation, his team made a comprehensive investigation report.

    On whether the 5th defendant played no role, since he spoke extensively about the first four defendants, the witness said it was an oversight that he did not speak about the 5th defendant.

    He then proceeded to give details of the role the 5th defendant allegedly played in the whole incident.

    The witness said: “Investigation revealed that the 5th defendant worked in tandem with the 1st to 4th defendants .He was operating a Point of Sales (POS) units in five deferent locations.

    “About two to three weeks prior to the attack, his account was credited at two different instances with N800, 000.

    “He used the POS machine to distribute the money to the individuals, who aree members of the Al-Shabab Unit of ISWAP, and the defendants were beneficiaries of this money, with no evidence of business transactions between them.”

    PW-9 added that technical evidence established that the 5th defendant was in communication with them (the other four), within the period of the attack.

    He confirmed that autopsy examination was conducted on some of the dead bodies and a report was generated.

    The prosecution tendered the report which was admitted in evidence without objection from the defence.

    The court also admitted in evidence, the comprehensive investigation report on the attack, which the prosecution tendered through the witness.

    The defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad said he would not object to the tendering of the report, but would require time to study it, because it was served on his team few days ago.

    He sought an adjornment to enable him study the investigation report before he could cross-examine the witness.

    Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Feb. 18 at 11am for continuation of trial in the absence of objection from the prosecuting lawyer.

  • I lost my two legs, left eye in Owo church terror attack, nurse tells court

    I lost my two legs, left eye in Owo church terror attack, nurse tells court

     

    A nurse working with the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, on Wednesday, narrated how she lost her legs and left eye in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State.

    The nurse, who is the Department of State Services (DSS)’s 4th prosecution witness (PW-4), told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by the DSS lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN.

    The witness, identified as “SSD” due to security reasons, gave details of how a dynamite thrown into the church hall shattered her legs and destroyed her left eye.

    She said the incident occured during the church’s Pentecost Sunday service.

    The PW-4 said while the service was about coming to an end, they heard the first gun shot outside the church and they thought it was a banger the is thrown during the celebration.

    She said when the attack became intense, she ran to the alter to lie down, where she met a lot of people struggling to save their lives.

    “And a lot of people came after me and laid on top of me. I was there praying in my heart that God should save my family because I did not know the direction they ran to.

    “I also told God to have mercy on me and that, if that is going to be my last day on earth, He should forgive me all my sins.

    “Then, the gun shots continued sporadically.

    “I heard a loud sound, which I believed to be a dynamite sound. Then, I don’t know what followed until everywhere became calm and I realised that I was still alive.

    “Then, I touched my eyes, everywhere was bloody. I touched my leg, I could not feel anything, only what felt like rags and the dangling shattered part of my legs.

    “Then, I could not talk, my voice was gone and could not hear well. I was hearing faintly.

    “And, I was trying to call for help, but my voice was not coming out. So, then I started waving my hands and saying ambulance, hospital.

    “I was taken to the hospital along with other victims and dead bodies.

    “When I was receiving treatment in the hospital, I lost my left eye, and now use prosthesis,” she narrated.

    The witness asked if the judge could permit her to remove the prosthesis for the court to see.

    According to her, I also lost my two legs.

    “The two legs were amputated above the kneels.

    “I spent about five months plus in the hospital before I was discharged. Since then, I have been on wheelchair,” the witness said.

    At that point, Adedipe applied to the court that that the witness, who was on wheel chair, be wheeled out to the middle of the courtroom for the court to see the amputated legs and the damaged eye.

    Justice Nwite granted the application and the witness was then moved to the middle of the courtroom where she showed the judge the damaged eye and legs.

    She said no fewer than 41 worshippers died in the attack.

    Under cross examination by the defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness said she could not count the number of people with whom she was at the church alter during the attack.

    On what could have affected her left eye, SSD said she could not say precisely, but thought it might have been the dynamite, because the roof at the alter was destroyed by the blast from the dynamite.

    On how she knew that 41 people died in the attack, the witness said she did not know immediately, but learnt about it when she came to life and started asking about what happened.

    The witness said she also learnt about the number of casualties from the programme that was printed when the dead were being given mass burial.

    SSD said she did not know the number of those who came to attack the church.

    Also given his testimony, the PW-5, tagged as “SSE,” said he was a civil servant and the husband to SSD (the nurse).

    Testifying, the PW-5 said he was in the church on that day with his mother, his wife and three children (two girls and a boy).

    “The congregation gathered in the church, in which I and my family were not left out.

    “After the mass, the priest now gave the final blessing for everyone to go. It was then that we heard the first gun shot outside the church.

    “So, we thought it was banger that people throw to commemorate the event of Pentecost.

    “But later, the sound continued, approaching fast, to the church.

    “Then the MOD (Men of Discipline), who happened to be one of the church’s wardens, shouted that everyone should lie down.

    “He (MOD) ran to the entrance door and closed the door. By then, the gunmen were already around the church’s premises, but could not enter through the entrance door.

    “They were then shooting through the windows and those that wanted to escape, they shot them outside.

    “When the MOD discovered that he could no longer withstand it, he left the entrance door and the assailants gain entrance into the church,” he said

    The SSE said the terrorists were first shooting those that wanted to run out of the church.

    “But, noticing that those who wanted to move out of the small door at the same time were many, an explosive device was thrown to the place where people gathered behind the exit door, where I laid down.

    “And, the device started exploding sporadically, one after the other. The whole church was full of dust and smoke.

    “For long, no human being talked. When the device ceased, we thought they have gone.

    “A woman stood up to see, and she was shot. And then, I buried myself back under the church pew.

    “After a while, without anyone moving, I tried to raise up my head a bit.

    “I saw one of the assailants hanging his gun on his shoulder, jogging to the altar, the sanctuary, and threw another dynamite there and ran faster than before out of the scene.

    “For almost two to three minutes, the device was exploding, destroying both human beings and church structures.

    “For some minutes, the church still remained silent until the time outsiders ran inside, shouting that they (the attackers) have gone,” he said.

    According to him, it was then that I stood up, moved outside and even climbed some corpses on the floor, looking for my family members.

    “Outside, I saw my mother and my two daughters, remaining my wife and my son. I went back to the church.

    “My lord, you can imagine the feeling when I had to be searching and turning the corpses of young people on the floor to see if any of them was my son,” the witness said.

    He added that while still searching for his son, he saw a woman on the floor whose lower part had been shattered and only sympathised with her only to later find out that the woman was his wife.

    “I went out of the church, by the side of my car, a woman was shot there with her child.

    “And some of the bullets that penetrated the woman also damaged my car.

    “Thereafter, somebody called me that my wife is somewhere outside the church. I went there to see her.

    “I discovered that it was the woman that I passed by in the church, which I did not recognise, but was pitying that turned out to be wife,” he said.

    The witness said his wife was later taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo by another member of the church.

    He added that on getting to the hospital, he handed his wife to a doctor, who happened to be a member of their church.

    “At the hospital, I signed for my wife to be amputated and her two legs were amputated. And we discovered later that one of the eyes was ruptured.

    “As at today, she lives with no legs and one eye.”

    The witness said after the incident, the Ondo State Government promised to give his wife prostheses for her legs, but that the vendor was unable to provide useful prostheses until the then administration of The late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu left office.

    He said he had called the current Commissioner of Health in Ondo State on the issue, but he failed to do anything.

    Under cross-examination by Mohammad, the witness said the attackers used both guns and dynamites inside the church.

    On where he was when the assailants entered the church, the witness said he was in the church and hiding under the pew.

    He said he could see the attackers where he was but could not see their faces clearly.

    On how many the attackers were, the witness said he saw three inside the church and one outside, who was shooting through the window.

    Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the ongoing terrorism trial, the DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.