A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the horrific attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, bringing a significant chapter of one of Nigeria’s most tragic terrorist incidents closer to justice. The ruling comes nearly four years after the June 5, 2022 massacre that left dozens of worshippers dead and many others seriously injured during a Pentecost Sunday service.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite found the four defendants guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge brought by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government. The convicts, identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris, were convicted for crimes including terrorism financing, hostage-taking, kidnapping, conspiracy, and the use of explosive devices that resulted in deaths and injuries.
The court held that the prosecution successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt through extensive evidence presented during the trial. Prosecutors called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, forensic examination reports, and electronic communications allegedly exchanged among the defendants before and after the attack. Evidence presented before the court linked the convicted men to a terrorist cell that carried out the deadly operation. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
In addition to the death sentence, the court imposed life imprisonment on the convicts for belonging to a terrorist organization and handed them 20-year jail terms for conspiracy. However, a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence connecting him to the crime.
The Owo church attack remains one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history. Gunmen stormed the church during a Sunday service, opening fire on worshippers and detonating explosive devices, creating scenes of chaos and devastation. More than 40 people were killed, while over 100 others sustained various degrees of injuries, leaving families and communities traumatized by the tragedy.
During the trial, a Catholic priest who survived the attack recounted the terrifying moments when multiple explosives were detonated inside the church as worshippers scrambled for safety. Investigators told the court that the attackers used improvised explosive devices and assault rifles to carry out the massacre, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
The verdict is being viewed as a major test of Nigeria’s commitment to prosecuting terrorism-related crimes and ensuring accountability for acts of mass violence. Security agencies and prosecutors argued that the successful prosecution demonstrates the determination of the government to pursue justice for victims of terrorism and deter future attacks.
For many families who lost loved ones in the attack, the judgment represents a long-awaited moment of justice. While the pain and memories of that tragic day remain, the court’s decision sends a strong message that those responsible for acts of terror will face the full weight of the law.
