A senior witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the men standing trial for a brutal church massacre were funded, armed and mobilised in advance of the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo.
The witness identified in court only by a security code “SSI” said investigators found that the suspects were linked to the extremist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and that their cell operated in parts of Kogi and Ondo States.
According to the testimony, a meeting was held on May 30, 2022, at a secondary school in Ogaminana, Kogi State, where a coordinator known as “Odoba” instructed members to strike the Catholic church on a Sunday and to target the priest.
Weapons including AK-47 rifles, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were later supplied for the operation.
On the morning of June 5, the group arrived near the church with concealed weapons, opened fire on worshippers inside and outside the sanctuary, and detonated explosives.
The attack killed more than 40 people including women and children — and injured dozens of others.
Prosecutors also told the court that one of the defendants allegedly ran multiple Point of Sale (POS) outlets and received significant cash payments in the weeks leading up to the assault, which were then distributed to other suspected members without evidence of legitimate business transactions.
Several exhibits, including a medical report, autopsy results and photographs from the scene were admitted into evidence during Tuesday’s proceedings.
Defence counsel requested additional time to review the investigation report before cross-examining the witness.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial until February 18 for continuation of proceedings.
