The trial over the 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church continued on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as a defendant accused operatives of the Department of State Services of subjecting him to abuse and coercion.
The defendant, Al-Qasim Idris, made the allegation while testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, claiming he was pressured to confess to involvement in the deadly incident.
Idris told the court that he and other suspects were allegedly maltreated during their detention in DSS custody following their arrest.
He further stated that the alleged abuse left him hospitalised for three days before he was returned to custody and kept in an underground cell.
According to him, a female DSS operative later interrogated him over his purported role in the attack but dismissed his claims of innocence.
He alleged that the officer threatened prolonged detention, warning that he could be held for decades without his family knowing his whereabouts.
Idris also told the court that the operative made chilling remarks, suggesting that if he died in custody, his body would be disposed of without trace.
The defendant further claimed that he was compelled to write a statement and was coached on how to respond to questions during interrogation.
He added that another DSS official allegedly informed him that there were instructions to eliminate him but that he was being given an opportunity to admit guilt.
Maintaining his innocence, Idris said he and two other suspects were later questioned over phone location data linked to the time of the attack, explaining that any discrepancies were due to his presence at a farm in Elegbeka, near Omi-Alafia.
Following the testimony, Justice Nwite adjourned the case till March 26 for continuation of hearing.
