A pivotal moment unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday as one of the suspects linked to the tragic 2022 Owo church massacre took the stand to recount his arrest. Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, the first of five defendants to open his defense, provided a detailed narrative of the night he was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS). This trial stems from the devastating attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which claimed 41 lives and left over 140 worshippers injured during a Sunday service.
Testifying in his native Ebira language through a court-provided interpreter, Omeiza described himself as an auxiliary nurse. He told the court that his arrest occurred in the early hours of August 1, 2022. According to his account, he was awake and reading at approximately 2:20 a.m. when he heard unusual noises outside his residence. Upon looking through his window, he spotted a group of men dressed entirely in black with their faces covered, who eventually forced their way into the house.
Omeiza explained to the court that the operatives were initially searching for his elder brother, Jamiu. During the raid, the officers also picked up two young boys who were in a nearby room. From there, Omeiza said he was taken to a DSS facility in Lokoja, where he later met the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar. He noted that officials spent time recording their personal histories, including their educational backgrounds and family details, before he was asked to provide a statement.
In a notable part of his testimony shared with Reports, Omeiza claimed that during his initial detention in Kogi State, he was never questioned about the Owo church attack or any alleged ties to terrorist groups like ISWAP. It wasn’t until August 18, 2022, when he and his brother were transferred to the DSS headquarters in Ondo State, that investigators began interrogating them specifically about the massacre.
The trial, which has been moving at an accelerated pace at the request of the prosecution, has already seen the DSS present eleven witnesses. While the court previously admitted confessional statements from the defendants, Omeiza’s testimony marks the beginning of the defense’s attempt to tell their side of the story. Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned the proceedings until March 6 to allow for the continuation of the defense.
