A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of a terrorist group to death by hanging over their involvement in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which occurred on June 5, 2022.
The convicted individuals — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris — were found guilty on terrorism-related charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that the four convicts actively participated in the activities of the terrorist group and were involved in the church attack.
The Owo church attack, carried out during a Pentecost service, claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured. Prosecutors told the court that the attackers used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles during the assault.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, forensic evidence, and digital communications allegedly linked to the defendants before and after the attack. A Catholic priest also testified, recounting how multiple explosives were detonated inside the church during the incident.
The judgment marks a significant milestone in the prosecution of those linked to one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years.
