Two additional witnesses on Tuesday testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the ongoing trial of five men accused of masterminding the June 5, 2022, attack on the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The Department of State Services also tendered extra exhibits, which were admitted by Justice Emeka Nwite without objection from the defence.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the DSS on a nine-count amended charge bordering on terrorism and related offences.
They are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).
All the defendants had pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.
At the hearing, the two prosecution witnesses, identified as SSB and SSC for security reasons, gave accounts of how the attackers stormed the church during Sunday Mass.
SSB, a female student from Anambra State, told the court that the assailants forced their way into the church, locked the main entrance and opened fire on worshippers, including those at the choir gallery.
She said an explosive device was placed close to her head after she raised her face while one of the attackers was speaking, adding that she narrowly moved away before it detonated.
With the permission of the court, the witness displayed her injured left leg, explaining that she had undergone four surgeries and that metal implants were still fixed in the limb.
She further told the court that a two-year-old relative was shot from behind during the attack and died instantly.
The second witness, also code-named SSB, corroborated her account, stating that about 40 worshippers were counted dead shortly after the attackers left the scene.
He added that the church was bombed three times, causing extensive damage.
Both witnesses confirmed that they were invited by the DSS to its Akure office, where they volunteered their statements on May 26, 2024.
Their extra-judicial statements were admitted as Exhibits B and C following the absence of objections by the defence.
At the close of proceedings, counsel for the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution intended to call seven more witnesses, but that only two would testify at the next sitting.
Defence counsel, Abdullahi Auwal Mohammed, appeared for the five defendants.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case till January 14 for continuation of the trial.
The court recalled that a Catholic priest, also identified as SSA, had earlier testified on December 11, 2025, as the first prosecution witness.
