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One of five people indicted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged involvement in the June 2022 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Francis, Owo in Ondo State, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, how he was arrested by the secret police.
The suspect, known as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, opened his defense while being presented with evidence by the defense attorney, Abdullahi Muhammad.
The suspect gave his testimony in Ebira and was interpreted in English by court staff.
Suspected herdsmen on June 5 2022, killed 41 worshipers in a church terror attack, while 140 others suffered various injuries.
DSS has summoned 11 witnesses to prove the accusations against the defendants in the trial which begins on August 1 2025.
READ ALSO: DSS indicts El-Rufai detained by ICPC, court adjourns case until April 23
The court admitted the confessions of the defendants after the end of the trials which were conducted to prove that the witnesses’ statements were given voluntarily.
The five defendants are Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).
DSS had requested an expedited hearing in the trial which was granted by the court.
Omeiza, who claimed to be an auxiliary nurse, told the court that he was arrested on August 1, 2022 along with two other boys named Hauwa and Yusuf, at the same house.
“I usually wake up in the morning to read a book. While I was reading, I looked at the clock and it was 02.26.
“Suddenly I heard voices outside. I then dropped the book I was reading, opened the window, to see what was happening.
“I saw a group of people dressed in black with masks on their faces. They forced the door open and entered,” he said.
According to him, they wanted to know the whereabouts of his older brother, Jamiu.
“They grabbed two boys from the room opposite me. I gave them the names Awal and Yusuf,” he added.
Judge Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to March 6 for further hearing.
