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.
No fewer than eight persons have been arrested over alleged homosexual acts in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State following a complaint lodged by a resident in the Kanti area of Kazaure town.
Confirming the arrest in a statement made available to PUNCH correspondent on Saturday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dauda Hadejia, said the Corps received a complaint from a 22-year-old man.
According to Hadejia, the complainant alleged that nine individuals had engaged in homosexual acts with him on different occasions.
The PRO said the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged acts.
Hadejia said the complainant therefore appealed to the Hisbah authorities to seek justice over what he described as deception and actions that negatively affected his life.
He explained that following the complaint, Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals mentioned by the complainant.
“Our men swung into action after receiving the complaint and so far eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.
The PRO added that during preliminary investigations, the eight arrested suspects reportedly admitted to having engaged in the act with the complainant.
He noted that the Hisbah Corps had compiled relevant information and evidence for presentation before the court.
Hadejia, in the statement, quoted the Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr Hussain Baban, as advising parents to be more vigilant about their children’s upbringing.
“Dr. Baban urged parents to pay greater attention to the upbringing of their children and monitor the people they associate with,” Hadejia said.
He also said the DCG called on members of the public to fear God and remain mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Accordingly, the PRO added that the investigation was still ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
According to Hadejia, the DCG expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation with the Hisbah Board in carrying out its responsibilities.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested one suspect in connection with the death of Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the state Ministry of Secondary Education, following allegations that he was assaulted at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, in Asaba.
The police disclosed this in a press release issued on Friday, September 25, 2026, confirming that the arrested suspect, identified as Lucky Adoh, was among three individuals allegedly linked to the incident.
The other two suspects, identified as Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, are reportedly on the run, with the police saying a manhunt has been launched to apprehend them.
The incident, which reportedly occurred at the commissioner’s office, has drawn public attention following allegations that the deceased was beaten by the commissioner’s aides.
The police, however, said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent death of the senior civil servant.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the case.
According to the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the investigation would examine available evidence, including video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records and the actions of everyone connected with the incident.
The command said the investigation was aimed at establishing the facts and ensuring that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The police commissioner assured the deceased’s family and members of the public that no individual found culpable would be shielded, regardless of their position or status.
Erale also pledged that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and without interference.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid drawing conclusions before the investigation establishes the facts surrounding the incident.
The commissioner also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, assuring them that the command would pursue justice without fear or favour.
The police statement did not disclose whether the commissioner for secondary education or any other official had been questioned in connection with the incident.
The Story will continue to follow developments in the investigation as the police work to apprehend the fleeing suspects and establish the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
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.
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