Metro
Owo Massacre: Amotekun Officer Identifies 2nd Defendant As Gunman
An officer of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, has told a Federal High Court Abuja, that he engaged in a gun battle with one of the attackers behind the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and later identified the man in court as the second defendant.
The witness, code-named SSG, an Assistant Commander with Amotekun and a resident of Owo, said he and his team encountered the fleeing attackers in the bush shortly after the church shooting, following intelligence from eyewitnesses.
According to SSG, he was initially responding to a separate kidnapping incident at Shagari Village in Owo when he received a call from his commander to abort the mission because an attack had just occurred at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Continuing his testimony, he said he saw spent AK-47 shells scattered on the ground, and inside the building, he met lifeless bodies of men, women and children, as well as several injured worshippers, when he got to the church.
He said the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while the corpses were deposited at St. Louis Hospital.
SSG told the court that he later gathered intelligence from a corn seller and a motorcycle rider, who said the assailants escaped in a blue Nissan vehicle towards the Achievers University axis along Ute Road.
He said his team chased the attackers and found the vehicle abandoned along the road at Ijebu area.
He noted that the vehicle was blue, with registration number AKR 895 AG. He added that they found sachet water inside the car.
The vehicle was taken to the Amotekun office in Owo, after which the team tracked the suspects’ footprints into the bush.
At a cocoa farm area, SSG said the trail became unclear, and while observing the surroundings, he noticed movement in a nearby bush.
“I saw the mouth of an AK-47 rifle pointed at me,” he said.
He explained that as he tried to respond with his pump-action gun, he realised it was on safety mode. After disengaging the safety, a gun battle ensued.
During the exchange, the witness said the other attackers escaped into the bush, while one hid behind a tree and shot the hunter accompanying the team, killing him on the spot.
He added that he was focused on evacuating the dead hunter to the mortuary at FMC, Owo.
SSG was asked in court to identify the person he saw during the shootout. He pointed at the second defendant and reaffirmed his identification during cross-examination.
He said the suspect was later arrested through the joint efforts of the police, civil defence, the DSS and other security agencies.
The witness also identified photographs of the recovered vehicle and told the court that the car is still in the custody of security agencies.
Earlier, a pathologist, code-named SSF, testified that he conducted post-mortem examinations on victims of the Owo church attack in June 2022.
He said he was invited by the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Awo Ajaka, and carried out the autopsies in Owo.
SSF told the court that all the bodies examined showed multiple gunshot injuries from firearms fired from different directions, leading to massive internal bleeding and death.
He identified several victims by name and body numbers in the forensic report tendered in evidence, and said the original copy was submitted to the Ondo State Government.
During cross-examination, he said he could not determine the exact type of gun or bullets used, explaining that he is a pathologist and not a ballistic expert.
The court upheld the prosecution’s objection, and the witness was discharged.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite Subsequently adjourned the case to February 11, for continuation of trial.
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, has assured that the Corps will not shield anyone found culpable in the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Minna, Niger State.
Audi gave the assurance when he paid a condolence and courtesy visit to the Emir of Minna, Umar Bahago, the families of the deceased and the family of the survivor.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC boss said the Corps would prioritise justice and transparency in its response to the incident.
“The CG strongly condoled with the families and gave a firm assurance that the Corps will not shield anyone found culpable, emphasising that justice and transparency will take precedence,” the statement partly read.
Audi also disclosed that the Federal Government, following a directive from the Presidency, had constituted a high-powered investigative committee to probe the incident.
He said the NSCDC was fully cooperating with the committee, adding that relevant personnel had already been placed in protective custody to make them available for the investigation.
“The CG noted that the Federal Government, under the directive of the Presidency, has constituted a high-powered investigative committee to probe the incident. The NSCDC is fully cooperating with the panel. Relevant personnel have already been placed in protective custody to make them fully available for a transparent investigation process,” he said.
Audi explained that his visit was also to join Muslim faithful in observing the third- and seventh-day prayers for the deceased.
He said the prayers were significant for seeking the repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for the bereaved families.
Responding on behalf of the traditional institution and the families, the Emir expressed appreciation to the Commandant General for his visit and the administrative steps taken following the incident.
He also commended the NSCDC for cooperating with the Presidential investigative committee and for personally identifying with the community during the period of mourning.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N80 million recovered from a businessman accused of selling a 146-acre property to another businessman without transferring ownership of the land.
In a statement on X on Thursday, the EFCC said the Acting Zonal Director of its Benin Zonal Directorate, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, handed over a draft of the recovered N80 million to 42-year-old businessman, Ifeanyi Innocent Madueke, on Wednesday, September 24, 2026.
The commission said Madueke had purchased 146 acres of land in a community in Delta State from Austine Muanya Okafor for N232.8 million.
However, Madueke was unable to take possession of the property despite completing payment, prompting him to approach Okafor for a refund.
According to the EFCC, Madueke’s efforts to recover his money were unsuccessful, leading him to petition the commission.
The EFCC said investigation established that Madueke transferred the money to the suspect in three tranches.
Presenting the recovered funds, Sa’ad said the commission would continue to discharge its responsibilities professionally and with utmost integrity.
He also warned that fraudsters would not be allowed to benefit from illicit activities.
Receiving the N80 million draft, Madueke expressed appreciation to the EFCC, saying he had almost lost hope before petitioning the commission.
“I am grateful to the Commission for what they have done. I had lost hope before I came to EFCC. I thank the management and staff for the good work they are doing,” he said.
The EFCC said the recovery formed part of its efforts to investigate financial crimes and recover proceeds of fraudulent transactions.
The Nasarawa State Police Command on Thursday said the the command had recorded another significant operational breakthrough with the arrest of four suspected abductors who allegedly planned to abduct and subsequently kill their intended victim after collecting ransom.
The command also arrested two suspects in connection with a cult-related killing in Lafia.
The development was contained in a statement signed by SP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer and available newsmen in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital.
He said that a credible intelligence information received by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID), Lafia, concerning criminal conspiracy and an attempt to commit an offence, the Command commenced discreet investigations into the planned operation and made an arrest.
The investigation led to the arrest of four suspects, namely Yahaya Musa ‘m’, Likita Adamu ‘m’, Riga Abdullahi ‘m’, and Saidu Alhaji Gari ‘m’, all residents of Adudu District, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The statement explained that the preliminary investigation also revealed that the suspects had allegedly planned to abduct one Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Alhaji Na’iye, the plan was however uncovered before it could be executed.
They operatives of the SID arrested two of the suspects on 19 September 2026, while the third suspect was arrested on 22 September 2026 and the fourth on 23 September 2026.
“During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the planned abduction and further disclosed that they had planned to kill the victim after collecting ransom.
“The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, for further investigation and prosecution.
The statement further added that the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Muhammad, has directed that the investigations be conducted diligently and professionally, with all they suspects if found culpable brought to justice in accordance with the law.
CP Shetima calls on members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the Police.
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