Owo Church Attack Survivor Tells Court How She Lost Both Legs and One Eye

A prosecution witness on Wednesday narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja how the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State permanently altered her life.

The witness, identified in court as SSD, a trained nurse and resident of Owo, gave her testimony during the ongoing terrorism trial involving five defendants accused of planning and executing the deadly assault that occurred during a Pentecost Sunday church service.

While giving evidence before Justice Emeka Nwite, SSD explained that the incident began suddenly and without warning. She said she initially believed the loud sounds outside the church were celebratory noises, until panic erupted among worshippers.

According to her account, as confusion spread, she moved towards the altar area and lay down for safety. However, the situation rapidly escalated as the sounds intensified and chaos engulfed the church premises. She recalled hearing a powerful blast, after which she became severely injured and disoriented.

SSD told the court that she was later rescued from the scene and taken to a hospital alongside other injured worshippers and deceased victims. Medical doctors carried out emergency procedures to save her life, which resulted in the loss of both her legs above the knee. She also lost her left eye and now uses a prosthetic replacement.

The witness informed the court that she remained under medical care for more than five months before being discharged. Since her release from the hospital, she has depended entirely on a wheelchair for mobility.

She further disclosed that at least 41 members of the church congregation lost their lives during the attack, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Following her testimony, the prosecution presented another witness identified as SSE, a civil servant and husband to SSD. He confirmed his wife’s account and shared his personal experience of the tragic event.

SSE explained that after the church service had ended, loud gunshots were heard outside the building. At first, many people assumed the sounds were harmless, but the situation quickly became dangerous as armed attackers surrounded the church.

He told the court that the attackers fired at people attempting to escape and later used explosive devices when worshippers became trapped at the entrance. The resulting smoke and confusion brought movement within the church to a halt.

SSE recounted his frantic search for family members after the attack, eventually locating his wife among the injured. He told the court that he authorized the medical procedure that led to the amputation of her legs in order to save her life.

He also revealed that although the administration of the late former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, had promised prosthetic legs for his wife, the commitment was not fulfilled before the end of the administration. He stated that no support has been provided by the current state government.

The five 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 terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the Owo church attack. All of them pleaded not guilty when arraigned.

The court admitted the written statements of both SSD and SSE as evidence. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to February 10 and 11 for continuation of trial, during which additional DSS witnesses are expected to testify.