Owo Church Attack: Witness Alleges Torture

Defence Witness Alleges Torture During Owo Church Attack Trial

A significant development has emerged during the ongoing trial concerning the Owo church attack, as a defence witness has come forward with serious allegations of torture and inhumane treatment while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The witness, Jamiu Abdulmalik, made these claims before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja, during the continuation of the defence proceedings for five individuals charged by the Federal Government in connection with the attack.

The defendants in this high-profile case are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Arrest and Initial Interrogation

Abdulmalik, who identified himself as a plumber and farmer, recounted his arrest in August 2022. He stated that he was apprehended while travelling from Ondo State to Kogi State. His arrest occurred at a checkpoint, where armed operatives, described as wearing black attire and masks, stopped his vehicle. Following a search of the passengers, he was identified through his phone details and subsequently detained.

“They asked for my name and phone, and I gave it to them,” Abdulmalik testified. “They pressed something on it and mentioned my full name, which I used for my NIN. They said I should come outside that I am under arrest. They handcuffed me and tied my face.”

Allegations of Inhumane Treatment

Upon arrival at the DSS command in Lokoja, Abdulmalik claims he endured what he described as profoundly inhumane treatment.

“When we got there, I was left in the vehicle for some time before they brought me down,” he told the court. “They carried me straight to where they hung me. They didn’t bring me down until I started urinating on my body. After that, they left me for a while and later took me to the cell.”

Further elaborating on the ordeal, Abdulmalik alleged that while suspended, operatives repeatedly poured water on his face. This, he stated, was accompanied by pressure to confess to allegations he insisted he knew nothing about.

“While I was there, they were blowing and pouring water on my face,” he recounted. “They said they were pushing me because I was lying. One officer later came and asked them to stop and said they should bring me down and confront me with evidence instead of making me shout.”

Throughout the interrogation, Abdulmalik maintained his innocence, consistently denying any involvement in wrongdoing.

“One of them told me he had gathered all the information about me and asked me to say why I was arrested,” he said. “I told him I didn’t know and that I didn’t have any problem with anybody. He asked if I wanted to say it by force or gently, and I said I cannot say what I do not know.”

Attempts to Link to Terrorist Activities

The defence witness also detailed how operatives attempted to connect him to alleged terrorist activities within his community. This included claims that a local school was being utilized for such purposes.

“They brought out a phone and showed me a school building and asked if I knew it. I said yes, it is a school in our village,” Abdulmalik testified. “They said I was a student of one of the defendants and that we were being trained to terrorise the community. I told them I am not a student there but a plumber who farms in Ondo.”

Abdulmalik further revealed that the DSS operatives presented him with a list of names, allegedly submitted by members of his community, which they claimed represented individuals involved in terrorizing the area.

“They brought a paper with many names written on it and said these were the people terrorising the community and that they were asked to arrest us,” he stated.

Previous Allegations by Another Defendant

This is not the first instance of such allegations surfacing in the trial. At the previous hearing, another defendant, Al-Qasim Idris, also alleged that DSS operatives had threatened him while in custody. He claimed to have been told that his corpse could be fed to crocodiles if he refused to confess to his alleged involvement in the Owo church attack. Idris further testified to experiencing coercion and maltreatment, and was reportedly warned that he could face prolonged detention without his family’s knowledge.

Adjournment of Proceedings

Following the testimony and further proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter. The court is scheduled to reconvene on April 1 and 2, 2026, for the continuation of the defence’s case. The allegations of torture and coercion raised by the defence witnesses are likely to be a significant factor as the trial progresses.