The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which killed more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite found the four defendants guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
Those convicted are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
Justice Nwite held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and established that the defendants were active members of an Al-Shabaab terrorist cell operating in Kogi State.
“The evidence before the court sufficiently established the participation of the defendants in the activities of the terrorist group, including the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo,” the judge ruled.
The court heard that the attackers stormed the church during a Pentecost service, detonated improvised explosive devices and opened fire on worshippers with AK-47 rifles, causing mass casualties and extensive destruction.
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants attended meetings between May 30 and June 4, 2022, where they planned the assault as part of the group's extremist agenda.
To support its case, the DSS called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, digital forensic evidence, and a mobile phone said to contain communications exchanged before and after the attack.
Among the witnesses was a Catholic priest who gave a detailed account of the violence and testified that multiple explosives were detonated inside the church during the service.
Lead prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, arguing that the evidence overwhelmingly established the defendants' involvement in one of Nigeria's deadliest attacks on a place of worship.
Defense counsel Abdullahi Mohammad asked the court to acquit the accused, insisting that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
However, Justice Nwite rejected the defence's arguments and convicted the four men on terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy, unlawful possession of explosives and firearms, causing death and grievous bodily harm, and participation in terrorist activities.
The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church shocked Nigeria and drew widespread condemnation from religious leaders, civil society groups and the international community.
It remains one of the deadliest attacks on a Christian congregation in recent years.
Security was heightened around the Federal High Court complex ahead of the judgment, with DSS operatives, police officers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel deployed to maintain order.
The convictions bring to a close a trial that began in August 2025 and mark a major milestone in efforts to secure justice for the victims and families affected by the Owo massacre.
Comments
Add a comment