Crime
Owo Massacre: Catholic Priest Narrates Church Bombing, Shootings in Court
A Catholic priest on Thursday narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja how terrorists launched a deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, during Pentecost Sunday service in 2022.
Biztellers reports that the attack took the lives of more than 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others.
Testifying behind a protective screen and identified as “SSA” for security reasons, the priest appeared as the first prosecution witness in the trial of five suspects being prosecuted by the Department of State Services.
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — face a nine-count amended charge before Justice Emeka Nwite.
On the events of June 5, 2022, the priest said the attack occurred towards the end of the First Pentecost Sunday Mass, which he presided over.
While being led in evidence by DSS counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the witness told the court that the attack took place towards the end of the First Pentecost Sunday celebration, which was attended by many worshippers.
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The priest, who said he presided over the service, stated that as the Mass was coming to a close, they suddenly heard a loud noise followed by sporadic gunshots, which created commotion and chaos among the congregation.
Facing the congregation, he initially thought someone had fallen, but then saw two members of the community quickly lock the main entrance.
An elder rushed to him and informed him they were under attack. At that moment, he also heard sporadic gunshots outside the church.
The witness said he initially wanted to run out but reconsidered because of the children present, adding that he and some members immediately tried to move the children to safety.
He said the only place available for refuge was the church restroom, where they continued to hear gunshots.
After two explosions went off, the third explosive detonated very close to where he was sheltering with the children, with an impact that felt as if the ground was about to open.
He stated, “The effect was like the ground opening to swallow us immediately. So, the attack continued. After a while, some of our church members came into this place and notified us that those who came to attack us had left.”
He said that after the attackers fled, he stepped out to see bodies and critically injured worshippers scattered around the church.
“Moving out with the children, I saw my choir master shot at the chest. He called me to pray for him. I did, but I told him I have to move him to the hospital.
“When I got out, I saw some already dead on the floor. So, I shouted that if there is any of us who could still drive, let us begin to move our brothers and sisters to the hospital,” the witness said.
During cross-examination, when asked if he counted the number of dead, the witness said it was impossible for him to ascertain the number of those killed under the commotion created by the attackers.
“It was with that violent attack that I understood that proverb that says, ‘the one struck or hit by a vehicle does not wait to take note of the vehicle’s number plate. So, I could not immediately count the number of those dead.
“Personally, I went two times to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, to take the casualties to the hospital. By the time I came the second time, there were already ambulances, both from FMC Owo and St. Louis Catholic Hospital, Owo, also moving the casualties to these two hospitals.
“The second time I got to FMC, the emergency ward was filled with these casualties. The casualties were those who were killed and injured.
“With the wailing, weeping and crying from people, I couldn’t even drive again. The care and healing of those injured continued,” the witness told the court.
The priest said he was later invited to the DSS office in Akure, Ondo State, where he made a statement.
During further cross-examination by defence lawyer Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness said he could not ascertain the number of attackers.
“With the commotion in the church, and my desire to rescue, especially the children, quickly as possible, I could not, and I did not identify or recognise those who carried out the attack.
“Therefore, I don’t know their number,” he added.
On how he managed to rescue the children, he explained that the children were at the foot of the sanctuary where he was standing when the attack started.
“As I said, with some adults, I moved with the children to a safe place. This safe place is the restroom, attached to the sanctuary as a building. From that building that is attached, you can move into the sanctuary and out of it,” he added.
Earlier at the commencement of proceedings, Adedipe informed the court that the charge had been amended to correct some minor errors.
He applied that the amended charge be read to the defendants, which was done, and the defendants all pleaded not guilty.
Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing to January 13 and 14, 2026, at 12 noon daily.
A routine patrol by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Lagos and the exposure of a wanted driver, highlighting the importance of proper vehicle documentation and cooperation with authorities.
The incident occurred at the RS2.1114 Isolo Unit Command, where officers stopped an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna bearing registration number LSD438GK for a Vehicle Licence Violation (VLV) on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at about 5:11 p.m.
While the driver initially failed to present valid documents, further checks revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen and the driver was already declared wanted.
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The suspect was subsequently handed over in handcuffs to the Nigeria Police Force, Ajao Division, for further action.
The FRSC credited the recovery to the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS), a digital framework that strengthens vehicle verification and tracking.
The scheme has reportedly helped identify, trace, and recover numerous stolen vehicles nationwide, while curbing criminal syndicates involved in vehicle theft and identity manipulation.
In a statement, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide stressed that enforcement is not only about traffic compliance but also crime prevention and public safety, urging motorists to always carry valid documentation and cooperate with patrol officers.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed commended the Isolo team for their vigilance, affirming the FRSC’s commitment to leveraging technology, intelligence, and strategic partnerships to protect lives and property on Nigerian roads.
A major election scandal unfolded on Saturday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as security agents apprehended a young woman in the Kabusa area for allegedly possessing 20 voter cards during the ongoing area council elections.
The woman, dressed in a black shirt and red trousers with a white scarf, was intercepted at Polling Unit 001 in Kabusa Primary School.
She was immediately escorted into a police van by security personnel, raising concerns about the integrity of the election process.
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Meanwhile, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, was on the ground monitoring the elections.
He visited several polling units, including the Karu Chief’s Palace, to interact with adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and assess voter turnout.
Wike reportedly inquired about the progress of the voting and the challenges faced by election officials.
This incident comes amid reports of low voter turnout and other electoral irregularities in parts of Abuja, underscoring ongoing concerns about electoral security and transparency in the FCT area council elections.
Authorities have assured that investigations are ongoing, and the suspect may face legal action pending further verification of her actions.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its fight against unsafe consumables with the sealing of 18 warehouses in Bida, Niger State, over the alleged storage and planned distribution of expired food and beverage products worth N100 million.
The enforcement action followed intelligence reports that large quantities of expired goods were being stockpiled in facilities located around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road, behind Bida Modern Market in Niger State.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, NAFDAC said its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate carried out the raid, uncovering thousands of expired items already packaged for distribution.
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Products recovered during the operation included 80,000 packets of expired non-alcoholic drinks, 5,000 packets of dairy milk, 16,000 packets of bottled water, 28 cartons of pasta, candies and other assorted goods.
The agency arrested managers of the affected warehouses for questioning, noting that preliminary investigations linked the facilities to a company identified as BY Ventures.
Following the discovery, NAFDAC extended its operation to supermarkets reportedly owned by the same company in Minna, where additional expired products and suspected counterfeit Goya oil were allegedly found. The supermarkets were subsequently sealed.
The Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, was invited for interrogation and reportedly admitted ownership of the seized expired products.
NAFDAC said investigations are ongoing and assured that appropriate regulatory sanctions would be applied at the conclusion of the probe to deter similar infractions.
The agency reiterated its warning to manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply strictly with safety regulations, stressing that it would continue surveillance operations to protect public health.
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