A defendant in the ongoing trial over the Owo church attack has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was allegedly subjected to torture while in the custody of the Department of State Services.
The witness, Jamiu Abdulmalik, made the allegation on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite during the continuation of the defence in the case involving five accused persons.
Abdulmalik, who is standing trial alongside four others over the attack, narrated that he was arrested in August 2022 while travelling from Ondo State to Kogi State.
According to him, he was apprehended by masked operatives who stopped his vehicle, searched his phone and identified him before taking him into custody.
“They checked my phone and called out my full name before asking me to step down. I was immediately handcuffed and blindfolded,” he told the court.
He alleged that he was later taken to a DSS facility in Lokoja, where he was subjected to inhumane treatment in a bid to force a confession.
“I was suspended and left in that position for a long time. They poured water on me and kept insisting that I should admit to what I did not know,” he said.
The witness maintained that he consistently denied any involvement in the attack despite pressure from interrogators.
He also claimed that operatives attempted to link him to alleged terrorist activities by showing him images and a list of names said to be connected to criminal acts in his community.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter till April 1 and 2, 2026, for continuation of the defence.