Priest Testifies in Abuja Court, Describes ‘Hell’ of Owo Church Attack That Killed Over 40 Worshippers
A Catholic priest has given a harrowing account of the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that the assault felt like “hell” and left more than 40 members of his congregation dead.
The testimony was delivered on Thursday by the first prosecution witness, identified only as “SSA” for security reasons, in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the terror attack.
According to the priest, the violence erupted toward the end of the First Pentecost Sunday service, as worshippers were singing the closing hymn. He said the peace of the ceremony was shattered by a sudden loud noise, followed by gunshots that created panic among the congregation.
“I thought someone had simply fallen until I saw two men from our own congregation hurriedly lock the main entrance,” he told the court. An elder then alerted him that the church was under attack.
As gunfire continued outside, the priest initially stayed in the sanctuary, reluctant to leave the children under his care. Together with adults, he moved them to an attached building he described as a temporary safe area. However, the attackers continued their assault, detonating explosives. One blast landed near the safe place, the priest said, likening the impact to “the ground opening to swallow us.”
When the attackers finally left, the priest said he saw his choir master lying wounded with a gunshot to the chest. After praying with him, he attempted to move him and other victims to hospitals in Owo.
Chaos made it impossible to accurately tally the dead immediately after the attack, the priest testified, but he personally transported victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where the emergency ward was overwhelmed with casualties.
Under cross-examination, he said he could not identify or count the assailants due to the confusion during the attack.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the hearing to January 13 and 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.