An eighth prosecution witness in the trial over the
June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo has identified the
second defendant, Al Quasim Idris, as one of the alleged assailants.
The witness, an operative of the Amotekun Corps,
testified before a Federal High Court in Abuja that he encountered Idris during
a gun battle shortly after the church attack. He said the exchange of gunfire
occurred in a nearby bush as security operatives pursued the fleeing attackers.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting
five defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Quasim Idris (20), Jamiu
Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — in
connection with the deadly assault.
Earlier on Tuesday, the seventh DSS witness, also an
Amotekun officer, identified Al Quasim Idris in open court as one of the
individuals he confronted during the shootout.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Ayodeji Adedipe
(SAN), the eighth witness, identified by the code name SSH, recounted how he
and his team responded to a distress call on the day of the incident.
He said they were initially on an anti-kidnapping
mission when they received information about the attack on the church and were
instructed to redirect to the scene.
“On getting to the church, we met a crowd and managed
to enter the premises. We saw several dead bodies on the floor, both inside and
around the church, including injured women and children,” he told the court.
According to him, witnesses informed them that the
attackers, reportedly four in number, had fled in a blue Nissan vehicle. The
operatives immediately pursued the suspects along Ute Road.
He said their vehicle allowed them to close in on the
suspects before the attackers suddenly abandoned their car and escaped into the
bush. One officer and a volunteer hunter chased after them while others took
strategic positions.
The witness stated that during a fierce gunfight in
the bush, he sighted Al Quasim Idris among the attackers. However, the
assailants allegedly killed the volunteer hunter before fleeing.
“We later returned to retrieve the hunter’s body,” he
said.
The abandoned Nissan vehicle was taken to the Amotekun
office and later transferred to the state headquarters in Akure.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Abdullahi
Mohammad, the witness said he could not recall how many officers retrieved the
hunter’s body. He also confirmed that the vehicle’s owner later appeared at
their office to identify himself but noted that he was not part of the team
that interviewed the man.
At the close of proceedings, the prosecution requested
a three-day adjournment to present its final witnesses and conclude its case.
The defence did not object.
Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the trial
to March 24, 25, and 26 for continuation.
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