By Adesakin Adefemi
The trial of five suspects accused of the Owo church attack is ongoing, with one defendant, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, testifying in court about his arrest and detention.
Omeiza claimed he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 1, 2022, alongside his elder brother and two other young boys.
According to Omeiza, DSS operatives stormed his residence at 2:26 am, asking about his elder brother, Jamiu. He was taken to the DSS facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, where he was detained for weeks before being confronted with allegations relating to the Owo church massacre.
Omeiza alleged that he was chained, beaten, and tortured by DSS operatives during his detention. He claimed he was not informed about the Owo church attack or membership of ISWAP or any other terror organization until August 18, 2022, when he was moved to Ondo State.
The defendant further told the court that he was detained alongside his elder brother in the same room at the DSS headquarters in Akure, where interrogators questioned them about the attack. Omeiza’s testimony has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
The Owo church attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, resulted in the deaths of 41 worshippers, with over 140 others injured. The attack was carried out by gunmen who opened fire on worshippers during a Pentecost Sunday service.
The suspects, including Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, face nine terrorism-related charges. The DSS has called 11 witnesses to establish the allegations against the defendants.
The court has admitted confessional statements and digital forensic evidence, including a Digital Forensic Examination Report, as evidence. The trial is set to continue on March 6, with Justice Emeka Nwite presiding over the case.
The nation awaits justice for the victims’ families as the trial continues, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Omeiza.
