An officer of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) has told an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure that he engaged one of the attackers behind the June 5, 2022, massacre at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in a gun battle and later identified the suspect in court.
The witness, an Assistant Commander with Amotekun, code-named SSG, said he confronted the assailants in the bush shortly after the deadly attack and recognised one of them as the second defendant in the ongoing trial.
How Security Agents Tracked the Attackers
SSG told the court that he was initially responding to a kidnapping case in Shagari Village when he received instructions to redirect to the church attack scene.
On arrival at the church, he said he saw spent AK-47 shells, lifeless bodies of worshippers, and several injured victims.
According to him, the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while bodies were deposited at St Louis Hospital.
Abandoned Vehicle and Bush Encounter
The witness said intelligence from residents led his team to a blue Nissan vehicle used by the attackers.
“The vehicle, with registration number AKR 895 AG, was found abandoned around Ijebu area,” he said.
He added that the team followed footprints from the vehicle into the bush, which led them to a cocoa farm.
Gun Battle With Suspects
SSG narrated that he noticed movement in the bush and suddenly saw an AK-47 rifle pointed at him.
“I saw the muzzle of an AK-47 pointed at me,” he told the court.
He said a gun duel followed after disengaging the safety of his pump-action gun.
During the exchange, other suspects escaped, while one attacker hid and shot a hunter accompanying the team, killing him instantly.
Suspect Identified in Court
SSG told the court that he later identified the second defendant as the person he encountered during the shootout.
He reaffirmed his identification during cross-examination.
He also said the suspect was eventually arrested through the joint efforts of the police, DSS, NSCDC, and other security agencies.
Pathologist Confirms Cause of Death
A pathologist, code-named SSF, testified that he conducted post-mortem examinations on victims of the attack.
He said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds from different directions, leading to severe internal bleeding and death.
However, he clarified that he could not determine the specific firearms used, as he is not a ballistic expert.
Trial Continues February 11
After hearing the testimonies, the court discharged the witnesses and adjourned the case until February 11, 2026, for continuation of trial.
